Military History

Theatre

Action/Battle/Other

Battle of Dover Straight

Place of Death

English Channel off Dover

 

Medals

Medal Citation (if app)

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Enlisted Date/Place

11 Aug 1907 at Portland

Other Information/Previous Regiments/Units

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Circumstances Leading to Death

On the night of 20th/21st April 1917 German destroyers of the 5 Half Flotilla (5HF) led an attack on the Dover barrage (a floating mine platform) and to attempt the bombarding of Dover if possible. At 23:30 on the 20th, having already shelled Calais, 5HF opened fire on Dover and the Kent countryside heading back for the barrage. Just short of it and with time in hand they turned for the southern entrance of the Downs to attack any shipping, but in doing so headed straight for HMS Swift and HMS Broke, which at 0045 were 3 miles E of the S Goodwins LV. Both spotted ships on the port bow, came under fire and made out the funnel flare of five or six destroyers on the opposite course. 

HMS Swift turned to ram but missed, passed through the German line and was hit several times, she hit back in return and fired a torpedo which hit G.85. Swift with 4ft of water in the stoker's messdeck turned and followed the Germans east but had to give up and made her way home with casualties of 1 killed and 4 wounded

HMS Broke also turned to ram and fired a torpedo which seemed to hit the intended victim steadied, then put helm hard over to hit the destroyer G.42 which it rammed amidships at 27knots. Locked together, Broke's sailors had to repel German boarders in hand-to-hand fighting and while Broke poured fire into G.42 from point blank range, the last two German destroyers poured fire into her as they steered past. Getting clear, she limped eastwards after Swift, but with her boiler-rooms badly damaged, steam dropping, half of bridge on fire and decks swept with shellfire. She decided to turn back for the torpedoed G.85 which was stopped and in flames, and the rammed G.42, which both opened fire. Broke replied and silenced them, but then her engines gave up and she drifted towards the burning G.85. Destroyers Mentor, Lydiard, Lucifer had by now left Dover, reached Broke about 0115 and pulled her clear and she was taken in tow to Dover; having suffered casualties of 21 killed, 36 wounded.

Swift and Broke were in dockyard hands for several weeks and there were no more destroyer raids on the Dover Straits for ten months. Cdr Evans was feted in the British press as "Evans of the Broke".
Thank you to Naval History.net for the above

HMS Broke	Dover Straights Barrage Map