The village of Mortenhamstead nestles snugly into the edge of Dartmoor, and in its church is a small brass memorial which commemorates the death of Lt. Robert Middlemist R.N. He was killed on 20th January 1921 whilst serving on board the submarine K5. The K5 left Torbay on 19January 1921 with the K8, K15, K10 and K22 for a mock battle in the Bay of Biscay. The K5 had an experienced skipper in Lt.Com Gaimes but a new crew. Robert Middlemist was an acting Lt.
The Brass plaqueThe submarine K5 signaled its intention to dive on 20 January when 120 miles south west of the Scilly Isles. She never surfaced, and it was presumed that she had exceeded her safe depth. All fifty seven officers and men were killed. All that was recovered was a battery cover and a sailor’s ditty box. At first this just seems to be another sad death of a young man serving his country. But the fact that it happened in a K class submarine makes it much more significant.
The Village ChurchThe K class of submarines was the brainchild of Admiral Jellicoe. At 339 ft long they were nearly twice the size of most other submarines. They were made this long to achieve a top speed on the surface of 24 knots. Unfortunately this meant that when the submarine dived, the bow could be at crush depth whilst the stern was still near the surface. The submarines were steam driven (really) with two funnels that had to be retracted before the dive could take place, and this was a constant source of leaks and problems, and was of particular concern in the case of a crash dive or bad weather.
Always having AccidentsThe K class were very unhappy ships that suffered a great deal of accidents. K13 for instance, sunk with all hands on her acceptance trials. In the end the submarines were scrapped and two of the hulls that were still being built were given over to an even more peculiar class of submarine, the M class. These also both sank with all hands.
andrew says
K13 was sunk on a test dive but not with all hands. A very dramatic rescue took place after days and more than half the crew rescue. K13 was raised and repaired and given a new K-number.
Eddie Billington says
My great uncle was on this submarine and died with it on that day. Before sailing, he had told his wife that if they submerged, they wouldn’t be coming up again! That’s the reputation this class of boat had.
Nicola Lampard says
My great grandfather Thomas Lampard died on the K5, I have his ditty box and my father was named after him, and my son named after him.
Peter Hart says
My grandfather, Frederick John Smith (Stoker Petty Officer, No. 299134), was on K5 and lost his life. I have the original letter sent to Granma, on 22nd Jan, from the Admiralty. Very impersonal and matter of fact. The K class were deathtraps.
Susan Stone says
A distant ancestor of mine, George William Baker, Acting Lieutenant/Engineer, lost his life on the K5. He was 33 years old.
Duncan Cumming says
My father (later Commander) Alastair Cumming was First Lieutenant on K5 from around mid 1918 to June 1919, a lucky escape for him. My sympathy to all who lost a family member on her in January 1921.
Alison says
My Great Uncle Albert perished on K5 too )0:
Madeline Smithr says
My cousin, William James Hester, ERA, age 26, died on the K5.
Ann Richardson says
My grandmothers brother Charles Edmonds died on K5 aged 28 he was a leading seaman
ROB JORDAN says
I’m researching material for a book and came across the story of the K5 disaster. Would any of you that have left comments on here be able to send me photos of anything to do with the sub?
Nicola Wilson says
I may have Rob, please contact me on niclampard@gmail.com
David Shepherd says
My great uncle John Henry Thomas Clowes from Northampton (b Rugby 1895) also died in the disaster leaving behind a wife and young child (they had been married 18 months). He survived WW1 and the sinking of the Prince of Wales in the Dardenelles only to die in this K5 disaster shortly before his term of service was completed. In his last letter to his mother he said he was expecting to go on a four day cruise after which he expected a long voyage. RIP
Robert says
My wife is the granddaughter of Lt G W Baker. Any info onhis career 1918-1921 would be of interest.
Chris Lashmar says
My great uncle Bertram Lashmar died in this
Tragedy having survived WW1
Tania Appleyard says
I’ve just recently found out that my great grandfathers brother died on the k5. He was Able seaman John H Evens. He lied about his age to join so i believe he was quite young.but left a wife and young daughter of about 6 weeks old.. I would love to learn more about this and if their is a memorial to the 57 men that died.
Paul Bayley says
My grandfather William H Charman , the telegraphist perished when the K5 sank.
I am collating a file about him and the K5
Any pictures or information would be welcome particularly any crew pictures. I have no pictures of my grandfather
Email. Prbayley@ icloud .com
Many thanks
David Coward says
A Stoker First Class named Lewis Herbert West of North Mundham near Chichester in West Sussex perished in the disaster that befell the K5 Submarine on 20 January 1921. He had serv ed throughout WWI as a career Royal Navy serviceman and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Memorial. Although not a war casualty Lewis is going to be included on an additional plaque which is being added to the North Mundham War Memorial on 10 November 2019. He is included in the Parish Roll of Honour Memorial Book which has been dedicated and is permanently on display in the St Stephen’s Church.
Janet Cash says
Tania Appleyard, the 6 week old daughter of John Evans was my grandmother! I have the newspaper article about my great grandfather here, if you would like to see it.
Geoff Quade says
Sadly a cousin of my wife has just passed away, his Grandfather Stanfield Lawrence perished with the K5, I have a photo of Stan field in uniform and I have his ID tag (not sure how?) happy to send photos if anybody doing research needs such info. Geoff Quade
Hana-louise says
Janet cash, I am tania’s daughter, he is a relation of ours. If we could somehow get in contact that would be brilliant put more peices together.
Robert MacPherson says
It is very sad that the 100 year anniversary has come and gone with so little attention to the incident. As a career submariner, I grieve the loss of all of my brothers no matter what their service or time. It is very quiet beneath the waves and the silence is the only epitaph for their sacrifice. God rest their souls.
Bob MacPherson, Chief Warrant Officer, United States Navy Submariner (Retired)
ROBERT PASS says
Just seen the last post; the anniversary wasn’t forgotten.
There was a piece in the Daily Telegraph (23rd January 2021) reproducing their coverage of 100 years ago. The print circulation of the newspaper is about 350,000, but many readers will now use the digital edition, so it has had wide UK circulation on the anniversary.
A very poignant story, and news to our family, it is not dead and forgotten
Paul Lamplough says
Hi, FYI. In my local church ( Great Barton , Bury St Edmunds ) there is a Grave stone of a May A Backhouse .Passed away peacefully Age 22 on August 17th 1921.On the same headstone Her beloved Husband Albert Edward Backhouse Who lost his life at sea on submarine K5 Jan 20th 1921 Age 26.
Barbara Forshaw says
Barbara Forshaw (nee Riley) says
My Grandfather’s brother Herbert Riley perished on the K5. I have a newspaper cutting, which my Grandfather saved telling of the disaster.
Cliff Roffey says
Alfred Frederick French, my grandfather lost his life aged 35 years on this boat on 20th January 1921. He would have been the coxswain and was a Petty Officer. He could however, be considered fortuitous to the hand of fate in one sense having survived a previous submarine mishap in the earlier submarine HMS E13 of 1914, where some half of his fellow shipmates perished. The boat ran aground in the Baltic and was disabled by German shellfire along with the concurrent slaughter of the crew. He was subsequently interned in Denmark as a Prisoner of War.
Does anybody have any photos of Fred or the crew in total during that fateful K5 trip? Also, any of the interior of the K5 ? I have a lot of information and am collating such for a book.