THE GERMAN DESTROYER V 69 AT YMUIDEN
GERMAN WOUNDED FROM V 69 IN THE DUTCH MILITARY HOSPITAL AT
AMSTERDAM.
CROWD READING THE BULLETINS
A GERMAN AEROPLANE WHICH LANDED BY MISTAKE AT AARDENBURG, JULY 1917
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-actions-in-the-north-sea-jqq8rwh02?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1735391
The actions in the North Sea
The destroyers were at Zeebrugge, and stole out under cover of the darkness to avoid being frozen in. They were probably making for Emden or Wilhelmshaven
January 25, 1917
The two naval engagements off the coast of Holland on Monday night were fought in darkness, and it is not surprising that the details are scanty. The principal action seems to have been between a dozen or so German destroyers and a patrol of British “light forces,” which presumably included vessels larger than destroyers. A German survivor now in Holland speaks of “big ships,” but the statement is evidently relative.
There is no doubt about the port of departure of the German flotilla. The destroyers were at Zeebrugge, and stole out under cover of the darkness to avoid being frozen in. They were probably making for Emden or Wilhelmshaven. A comparison of the various narratives, including those of German combatants, seems to suggest that the British “light forces” probably expected a sortie, and were in waiting.
The British Admiralty statement says that the enemy flotilla was met “near the Dutch coast,” and there was “a short engagement.” One of the German destroyers was sunk, and the rest scattered, having suffered considerable punishment.”’ Again there is no doubt about the “scattering,” for the crew of the large German destroyer V 69 acknowledge that the rest of the flotilla fled. V 69, the flagship of one of the divisions, limped into the Dutch harbour of Ymuiden on Tuesday morning in a badly battered condition. She had been trying to reach Emden, but sought shelter in neutral waters on sighting more British warships. She had lost one of her funnels, her bridge had been destroyed, her steering gear disabled, and she had been rammed and damaged by a British destroyer. The officers and crew had suffered many casualties and the commander of the division had been killed. If the other German vessels endured an equal hammering, as is probable, they must have been well punished. Men of the V 69 seem to have thought that several of their consorts were sunk.
The second engagement, according to the British Admiralty, was fought between destroyers only near the Schouwen Bank, off the mouth of the Scheldt. A British destroyer was hit by a torpedo, and three officers and 44 men were killed. The destroyer was afterwards sunk by our own ships, and there were no other British casualties.
The German official version is characteristic. It speaks of only one engagement, claims the sinking of the destroyer which our Admiralty acknowledge, alleges that a second British destroyer was seen in a sinking condition, admits, for it could do no otherwise, that the V 69 ran into Ymuiden, and asserts that all the other destroyers returned. In other words, the German Admiralty, according to their wont, conceal the whole story except in regard to the lost British destroyer and the V 69. As our Naval Correspondent points out, the German bulletin smacks very strongly of the first enemy account of the Battle of Jutland. Few destroyer actions can ever have been fought under more trying conditions, in pitch blackness and on a wintry night. There is every reason to hold that our daring seamen achieved a very gallant feat. and that they have given the enemy a severe lesson.
The German destroyers which made Zeebrugge their base have had a fairly long innings, and have caused much interruption to the mercantile traffic at the southern end of the North Sea. They were caught at last, and we trust that henceforth their depredations will be more constantly countered. Our destroyer flotillas in these waters have in the past been held in leash too much, through no fault of their bold commanders, but a new policy is evidently at work, and this successful enterprise is its first fruits.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/on-board-the-v-69-xdbd3rbwd?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1735391
There is no doubt about the port of departure of the German flotilla. The destroyers were at Zeebrugge, and stole out under cover of the darkness to avoid being frozen in. They were probably making for Emden or Wilhelmshaven. A comparison of the various narratives, including those of German combatants, seems to suggest that the British “light forces” probably expected a sortie, and were in waiting.
The British Admiralty statement says that the enemy flotilla was met “near the Dutch coast,” and there was “a short engagement.” One of the German destroyers was sunk, and the rest scattered, having suffered considerable punishment.”’ Again there is no doubt about the “scattering,” for the crew of the large German destroyer V 69 acknowledge that the rest of the flotilla fled. V 69, the flagship of one of the divisions, limped into the Dutch harbour of Ymuiden on Tuesday morning in a badly battered condition. She had been trying to reach Emden, but sought shelter in neutral waters on sighting more British warships. She had lost one of her funnels, her bridge had been destroyed, her steering gear disabled, and she had been rammed and damaged by a British destroyer. The officers and crew had suffered many casualties and the commander of the division had been killed. If the other German vessels endured an equal hammering, as is probable, they must have been well punished. Men of the V 69 seem to have thought that several of their consorts were sunk.
The second engagement, according to the British Admiralty, was fought between destroyers only near the Schouwen Bank, off the mouth of the Scheldt. A British destroyer was hit by a torpedo, and three officers and 44 men were killed. The destroyer was afterwards sunk by our own ships, and there were no other British casualties.
The German official version is characteristic. It speaks of only one engagement, claims the sinking of the destroyer which our Admiralty acknowledge, alleges that a second British destroyer was seen in a sinking condition, admits, for it could do no otherwise, that the V 69 ran into Ymuiden, and asserts that all the other destroyers returned. In other words, the German Admiralty, according to their wont, conceal the whole story except in regard to the lost British destroyer and the V 69. As our Naval Correspondent points out, the German bulletin smacks very strongly of the first enemy account of the Battle of Jutland. Few destroyer actions can ever have been fought under more trying conditions, in pitch blackness and on a wintry night. There is every reason to hold that our daring seamen achieved a very gallant feat. and that they have given the enemy a severe lesson.
The German destroyers which made Zeebrugge their base have had a fairly long innings, and have caused much interruption to the mercantile traffic at the southern end of the North Sea. They were caught at last, and we trust that henceforth their depredations will be more constantly countered. Our destroyer flotillas in these waters have in the past been held in leash too much, through no fault of their bold commanders, but a new policy is evidently at work, and this successful enterprise is its first fruits.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/on-board-the-v-69-xdbd3rbwd?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1735391
On board the V 69
I had just reached the deck when we discovered the enemy abeam at long range and opened fire. The enemy’s marksmanship was very accurate and we were soon hit.
January 25, 1917
Nine petty officers were landed from the damaged German destroyer V 69 and brought to the Willem Barentz Hotel, Ymuiden, tonight. My correspondent engaged them in conversation at a late hour. After some Dutch bock beer they rapidly recovered their spirits and began to sing Luther’s well-known hymn, “Ein’ feste. Burg ist unser Gott,” but they added an original ending: “aber unsere Macht ist fort.” A tower of strength our God doth stand, But our German strength is sand. In contrast to this I may add that while my correspondent was conversing with the Germans inside I was outside watching the dead bodies of their comrades being carried, unknown to those inside, under Dutch flags, through the street to the mortuary.
The following is the story of one of the petty officers, a warrant officer - My watch on deck was from 6.30pm vesterday [Monday] to 12.30 this morning. We had left port at 1pm on Monday for an ordinary patrol, so far as we knew. With one other destroyer we formed a rearguard to the flotilla of 11 vessels whose commander flew his flag aboard our ship. As all was quiet during the night I went below after my watch, but feeling uneasy I put on my overcoat and went on deck at 3am. It was a clear night, and as nothing happened I returned to my bunk.
I had hardly been there five minutes when the alarm bell rang and I had to take up mv post on deck to look after the ammunition supply. I had just reached the deck when we discovered the enemy abeam at long range and opened fire. The enemy’s marksmanship was very accurate and we were soon hit.
We tried to get home to a German port by all possible means, but we wonder how we got away, for we were faced by two British squadrons of four to six big ships each. There must have been treachery, because all precautions had been taken to avoid being overtaken. Both steering gears having been destroyed and also the compasses, we steered by the stars and by our screws. If it had not been for four British destroyers, which we sighted when we were off Ymuiden, we should have reached the mouth of the Ems.
As soon as we sighted them we decided to run the ship ashore on the Dutch coast, as we were not sure at what point we were. But a Dutch steam trawler told us that we were off Ymuiden and might make that port. The main action took place about 30 miles off Zeebrugge. We escaped, so far as we know, owing to the fact that we were the rearguard. We do not know what happened to the other vessels, but they must have got it badly.
This is my fourth destroyer. My escape in the Jutland battle was a good deal more miraculous than this. I have been in three raids on the English coast.
According to the statements of German officers here 23 of the crew of the German destroyer V 69, including some officers, are missing.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/german-aeroplanes-over-holland-dvkkl92sg?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1735391
The following is the story of one of the petty officers, a warrant officer - My watch on deck was from 6.30pm vesterday [Monday] to 12.30 this morning. We had left port at 1pm on Monday for an ordinary patrol, so far as we knew. With one other destroyer we formed a rearguard to the flotilla of 11 vessels whose commander flew his flag aboard our ship. As all was quiet during the night I went below after my watch, but feeling uneasy I put on my overcoat and went on deck at 3am. It was a clear night, and as nothing happened I returned to my bunk.
I had hardly been there five minutes when the alarm bell rang and I had to take up mv post on deck to look after the ammunition supply. I had just reached the deck when we discovered the enemy abeam at long range and opened fire. The enemy’s marksmanship was very accurate and we were soon hit.
We tried to get home to a German port by all possible means, but we wonder how we got away, for we were faced by two British squadrons of four to six big ships each. There must have been treachery, because all precautions had been taken to avoid being overtaken. Both steering gears having been destroyed and also the compasses, we steered by the stars and by our screws. If it had not been for four British destroyers, which we sighted when we were off Ymuiden, we should have reached the mouth of the Ems.
As soon as we sighted them we decided to run the ship ashore on the Dutch coast, as we were not sure at what point we were. But a Dutch steam trawler told us that we were off Ymuiden and might make that port. The main action took place about 30 miles off Zeebrugge. We escaped, so far as we know, owing to the fact that we were the rearguard. We do not know what happened to the other vessels, but they must have got it badly.
This is my fourth destroyer. My escape in the Jutland battle was a good deal more miraculous than this. I have been in three raids on the English coast.
According to the statements of German officers here 23 of the crew of the German destroyer V 69, including some officers, are missing.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/german-aeroplanes-over-holland-dvkkl92sg?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1735391
German aeroplanes over Holland
Thirty German aeroplanes, coming from the east, passed over Aardenburg at 8 o’clock this morning, flying low. They were fired on by Dutch soldiers, but, so far as is known, none was hit
August 20, 1917
Amsterdam, Aug 18. The Germans again committed a scandalous violation of Dutch neutrality today. German aeroplanes came down at Blyham and Beerta, small towns in Groningen Province, near the German frontier. That which descended at Blyham was on fire, and later its crew of three men were discovered uninjured. The aeroplane which came down at Beerta was hit by a shot fired by a Dutch sergeant, which broke off part of the screw.
These aeroplanes came from Ghent, and when above The Dollart (in the Emins estuary) they thought they had reached Germany. The number of the aeroplane which came down at Beerta was SSW 1,055; it was also marked KK.
Another report says that about 30 German aeroplanes, coming from the east, passed over Aardenburg (in Zeeland, near the Belgian frontier) at 8 o’clock this morning, flying low. They were fired on by Dutch soldiers, but, so far as is known, none was hit, and they disappeared westward. At 11.30 two aeroplanes, presumably German, passed Heerenveen (Friesland), going east. About midday about 20 aeroplanes flew above Westkapelle (Walcheren Island). They were fired on by soldiers and naval men. At 11.15 two aeroplanes, also presumably German, passed the Hook of Holland, flying high. They came from the south-west and went north-east.
August 19. A message from Zierikzee, on the south coast of Schouwen, an island in the estuary of the Scheldt, says that a squadron of aeroplanes passed over the coast of the island at 11am. on Saturday and threw three bombs, one of which fell on Moermond Castle, near Renesse, and another near Noordwelle, in an open field. Aerial torpedoes were also found in the district. No one was injured, but much damage was done. The aircraft went in the direction of Brouwershaven, on the north side of Schouwen.
A telegram reports that at the same hour two aeroplanes of unknown nationality appeared above Stellendam, coming from the south-east and disappearing to the north-east. Six bombs were thrown just outside Goedereede.
These aeroplanes came from Ghent, and when above The Dollart (in the Emins estuary) they thought they had reached Germany. The number of the aeroplane which came down at Beerta was SSW 1,055; it was also marked KK.
Another report says that about 30 German aeroplanes, coming from the east, passed over Aardenburg (in Zeeland, near the Belgian frontier) at 8 o’clock this morning, flying low. They were fired on by Dutch soldiers, but, so far as is known, none was hit, and they disappeared westward. At 11.30 two aeroplanes, presumably German, passed Heerenveen (Friesland), going east. About midday about 20 aeroplanes flew above Westkapelle (Walcheren Island). They were fired on by soldiers and naval men. At 11.15 two aeroplanes, also presumably German, passed the Hook of Holland, flying high. They came from the south-west and went north-east.
August 19. A message from Zierikzee, on the south coast of Schouwen, an island in the estuary of the Scheldt, says that a squadron of aeroplanes passed over the coast of the island at 11am. on Saturday and threw three bombs, one of which fell on Moermond Castle, near Renesse, and another near Noordwelle, in an open field. Aerial torpedoes were also found in the district. No one was injured, but much damage was done. The aircraft went in the direction of Brouwershaven, on the north side of Schouwen.
A telegram reports that at the same hour two aeroplanes of unknown nationality appeared above Stellendam, coming from the south-east and disappearing to the north-east. Six bombs were thrown just outside Goedereede.
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