The Kitchener Memorial, Orkney
High above the stormy sea on Marwick Head, five miles east of Dounby in Orkney, stands a lonely crenallated tower built by public subscription to honour the memory of Lord Kitchener who was lost in June 1916, when the cruiser H.M.S. Hampshire sank nearby. Off the 667 officers and men on board, only 12 survived.
The official version of events stated that the Hampshire was taking Lord Kitchener to Russia to persuade the Tzar to keep his country in the war, when it struck a mine laid by the German submarine U75. Because Kitchener’s body was never found, rumours about his death and his mission to Russia abounded, reaching the same fever pitch as the ‘Who shot J.F.K.' conspiracy. For instance, why were troops sent to stop locals rescuing the few survivors that were washed up on the shore? Had Kitchener been on board at all? And where was the gold bullion, supposedly being taken to Russia to bribe the Tzar if all else failed? Had the I.R.A. assassinated him? Kitchener had incurred their wrath by giving his approval to the bloody suppression of the Easter uprising of 1916, and the protracted series of executions that lasted through out May of that year.
However the most persistent rumour was that a Fritz Joubert Duquesne, a Boer who hated the English for they had done to his Country, had disguised himself as the Russian Duke Boris Zakrevsky, and joined Kitchener in Scotland. He was suppossed to have signalled the German submarine, and got off H.M.S. Hampshire by using a life raft before it sank. He was apparently awarded the Iron Cross for his efforts. Interestingly the same Dunquesne ran a huge spy ring in the United States of America in the Second World War until he was caught by the F.B.I. in what became the biggest round up of spies in U.S. history. What is fact and what is fiction I will leave you to decide, and point you to this great site www.hmshampshire.co.uk that has lots more info and photos.
So who was Lord Kitchener, and why all the fuss? It is difficult to point to anyone in public life today and say that they are a National Hero, but that’s exactly what Kitchener was. Born in 1850 in Ireland, he came to prominence as an Aide de Camp in the failed mission to rescue General Gordon in the Sudan. He then achieved national recognition in his second tour in the Sudan (1886-1899) by defeating the army’s of Abdullah al-Taashi, the successor to the Mahdi, at the battle of Omdurman. The Mahdi had defeated and killed General Gordon, one of the great heroic figures of Victorian England, so after the battle, to avenge Gordon, Kitchener had the Mahdi’s remains exhumed, burned, and scattered in the river. For his efforts Queen Victoria appointed him Knight Commander of the Bath and made him Baron Kitchener of Khartoum.
In December of 1899 Kitchener, now a Major General, was in South Africa for the start of the Second Boer War. In a brutal and savage conflict, Kitchener humbled the Boers by laying waste to their farms and driving their women and children into specific areas where they could be controlled. These areas became known as Concentration Camps. Conditions were dreadful, and in the end twenty six thousand women and children died of starvation. Kitchener had won, and they made him up to a full General, but his legacy of Concentration Camps, would later come back and haunt the world.
At the outbreak of the First World War, it was Field Marshall Lord Kitcheners face, on probably the most iconic poster in the world, saying Your Country Needs You, that incited thousands of eager young men to join up and fight the Germans. By now Kitchener was Secretary of State for War. Only with him at the helm, so the Country thought, could the Great War be won.
So what about H.M.S.Hampshire and the secret mission to Russia?
The armoured cruiser H.M.S.Hampshire was launched on the 24 September 1903 and was built by the firm of Armstrongs at Elswick. When she was completed in 1905 she joined the Channel Fleet and served in the Mediterranean and the China Station, returning to Scapa Flow, where on the 30 may 1916 she sailed as part of the Grand Fleet to fight at the Battle of Jutland. She returned safely on the 3 June to Scapa Flow, but was immediately ordered to embark Lord Kitchener and his staff, and proceed with all haste to the port of Archangel in North Russia. Here Lord Kitchener was to have urgent talks with the Tzar.
The weather was appalling with gale force winds and mountainous seas, but the mission was deemed so important to Britain’s war effort that the Hamshire, under the command of Captain Savill, had to sail immediately. It was a bad decision and the ship did not get far. An hour after setting sail, Captain Savill decided to call it a day and return to the safety of Scapa Flow. However at twenty to eight in the evening, the Hampshire was racked by a huge explosion that ripped out the middle of the ship. She was about one and a half miles from the shore between the Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head, when she rolled over and quickly sank, taking most of her crew of 667 to the bottom.
At the time it was thought that she had run into a string of twenty two mines laid by the German submarine U 75 commanded by Kapitanleutnant Curt Beitzen, who had been dispatched to watch the Grand Fleet as they left Scapa for the Battle of Jutland.
As the news reached Scapa Flow rescue ships were dispatched, but by the time they reached the area the Hampshire was gone, and only fourteen men in a Carly float reached the shore, two of them dying before they could be rescued. Over six hundred men were loss that terrible day. Many more would have been saved, but the life boats were smashed to pieces by the horrendous waves as they were lowered into the sea.
So what of Kitchener? Well many of the men who survived stated that Lord Kitchener was not killed by the explosion and must have made it to the upper deck, as they told to ‘make way for Lord Kitchener’. None of them saw him after that, and his body was never recovered.
The money for the Kitchener Memorial was raised by the people of Orkney, and was dedicated in 1926. The inscription on the plaque says it all.
This tower was raised by the people of Orkney in memory of Field Marshall Earl Kitchener of Khartoum on that corner of his country which he had served so faithfully nearest to the place where he died on duty. He and his staff perished along with the officers and nearly all the men of HMS Hampshire on 5th June, 1916.
I am grateful to Brian Sandom for the following information and photos.
My Uncle Gilbert Sandom, a Royal Marine, was lost on Hampshire, and presumably lies with his ship. I have served 23 years with the Royal Navy. I plan to lay a wreath over the wreck on 5th June 2011, the 95th anniversary of the loss, and my 79th birthday
As was expected the difficult task of actually getting to the wreck was not at this time possible, but on the 5th June we went to Marwick Head and crosses were laid at the Memorial to Lord Kitchener there. On Monday 6th my wreath was laid on the “Hampshire” memorial in the RN cemetery in Lyness.
I am grateful to Bill Holden for the following information and photos.
Hello,
My name is John and my father-in-law recently left us a picture that i feel someone in this group may be interested in. A beautiful piece named LORD KITCHENER’S RETURN. It is a 34″ by 24″ lithograph in a vintage wood frame with the name of W. Hatherell-1902. If this is of interest to anyone please contact me. Thank you.
My Uncle Gilbert Sandom, a Royal Marine, was lost on Hampshire, and presumably lies with his ship. I have served 23 years with the Royal Navy. I plan to lay a wreath over the wreck on 5th June 2011, the 95th anniversary of the loss, and my 79th birthday. I am researching self catering in the area, and would be very grateful to be put in touch with a fisherman or boatman that would be willing to take me out to the wreck for this purpose.
As for Mr. Brian Sandom´s noble purpose, I have no doubt that some of descendant from than “people of Orkney” still living in the surrounding will help him to get along with the hommage to his uncle (RIP), and why not to say, to the rest of sailors remaining at their post watching for ever HMS Hampshire.
Fraternally,
Risto
Chile
Thank you Risto. I most certainly will be doing that.
@Brian Sandom: I’m sure the British Legion in either Kirkwall or Stromness would be pleased to be of any help too
Thank you Jerzy. I am in touch with them, and also the Royal Naval Association in Orkney.
Very interesting to read all the comments regarding Brian Sandoms visit to Orkney next June, I shall be joining him on the trip, i am not a Naval Man,but spent the war years in the Army.
Looking forward to meeting all and enjoying your company
Regards
Lionel
Further to my mate Lionel tucker. Although an ex Pongo, Dunkirk, and D Day Veteran. He is 94 years old. We both together with my Wife Del are so much looking forward to meeting as many people in Orkney as is possible.
Its very good to hear that a wreath will be laid soon in memory of those who died at sea abord H.M.S. Hampshire.
I have a set of medals to William Wood from Poolstock Wigan who was a stoker on the Hampshire, he was lost at sea along with Lord Kitchener and his staff,
Ive had the medals for a few years now, sadly his memorial plaque was missing, fortunately ive just recently tracked it down in Canada,im happy to announce the group are now re united.
The group will be on display later this year in an exhibition within Bolton Central Library.
The exhibition will run throughout November as a token of remembrance.
Only 10 days to the off. It seems very unlikely that I will be able to lay the wreath on the wreck, but plans have been made to do so at the “Hampshire Memorial” in Lyness, thanks to the Secretary and Shipmates of the Orkney Branch of the RNA. This will give me closure on behalf of Gilberts Brothers and Sisters, sadly all gone now. Still a few of us Sandoms left though.
Well here I am back home from the magical place of Orkney with missions accomplished. As was expected the difficult task of actually getting to the wreck was not at this time possible, but on the 5th June we went to Marwick Head and crosses were laid at the Memorial to Lord Kitchener there. On Monday 6th my wreath was laid on the “Hampshire” memorial in the RN cemetery in Lyness. I was puzzled to find graves marked to unknown Royal Marines of Hampshire there, as my family were never told of this, at least to my knowledge. We were always led to believe that he lay with his ship. Any info on this would be very welcome. Brian Sandom
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I laid a wreath on behalf of the “Royal Naval Association” Netley at the wreck buoy of HMS Royal Oak. All this could not have been possible without the help of the Chairman of RNA Orkney Shipmate David Hughes.
I cant wait to go again. Brian Sandom