Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

William Henry Nanson naval diary, 2 August 1914-4 April 1916
MLMSS 9470

Transcriber’s notes:
HMS Glory Canopus Class - built by Lair, Birkenhead, laid down December 1896, launched 1899, completed 1900 , cost 895,814 pounds. First commissioned 1900.
6 ships of this class built between 1896 and 1902
Crew 682
Propulsion - triple expansion approx max. speed 19kts. Coal burning.
Main armament - 4X 12inch; 6X 6 inch guns World War 1 service
Attached to Channel Fleet.
5 August 1914 sent to Halifax as guard ship and to support cruisers in North American waters.
October 1914, escorted 1st Canadian Division to England.
May 1915 , transferred to Dardanelles December 1915, joined Suez Canal Patrol April to July 1916 refit at Portsmouth.
1 Augustl916 to 1919, flagship British North Russia Squadron based at Archangel 1922, sold for scrap.
The Nanson diary covers the above periods from 2 August 1914 [ Channel Fleet] to commencement of refit at Portsmouth.

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Commissioned HMS Glory, Portsmouth 2 August 1914
[Note, Britain declared war on Germany on 5 August 1914, following the expiry of an ultimatum sent to Germany on 4 August. The ultimatum demanded that Germany immediately quit the invasion of Belgium or Britain would declare war.(Germany crossed Belgium frontier on the morning of 4 August) Germany ignored the ultimatum. The recommissioning of HMS Glory on 2 August indicates that the navy was engaged in a mobilisation exercise given the build-up of international tensions, and Glory was either resuming with the fleet following a period in reserve or resuming operational duties following dockyard refit. The diary does not indicate whether this was Nansen’s first introduction to sea-going service, and/or that he had previous navy experience.]
Left Portsmouth 5 August 1914 6pm Arrived Plymouth ditto [5 August] 10pm?
Left Plymouth 6 August 6pm
Heave to steamer Spencer-Liverpool with cargo [of] grain for Germany. Sent her into Falmouth.
[It appears that Glory apprehended a cargo steamer with a load of grain finally destined for Germany, In other words, the British blockade of Germany had commenced.]
[This action was incidental to Glory proceeding to Halifax to commence duty, based at that port, as a guardship, ie a ship specifically located in order to repel any enemy attempt to invest, disrupt or damage port operations. Halifax, by virtue of its strategic position adjacent to the Atlantic , was seen as a vital port in the British - Canadian relationship, and the Canadians, not having much of a navy themselves, relied on the RN to perform such duties. Likewise, troop convoy escort.]
Arrived Halifax 16th [August]
Coaled ship -1500 tons
[Coaling ship was a disgusting job, and involved most of the ship’s company. Many descriptions as to this exercise abound .eg Churchill - “The ordeal of coaling ship exhausted the whole ship’s company" [Masse -‘Dreadnought’ p784] Because of the bunkering system, coal could only be taken on board in bags, by individual sailors. It was filthy work. After the loading was completed, the clean-up was monumental, because the coal dust permeated into every nook and cranny..]
Left Halifax 25 August Cruising around New York
[The entry “cruising around New York" indicates the ocean area patrolled by HMS Glory in the role of guardship, port of Halifax. Sailing south from Halifax {capital of Nova Scotia) immediately brings a ship into proximity with the U.S. New England states and the waters adjacent to the coast of New York.]
Arrived Halifax 31 August Coal 9oo tons
Left Halifax 5th September
Cruising - Captured two steamers –

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took one to Halifax - the Mont ? with German
reserves - 9th [September] Left same night, cruising around New York Arrived Halifax 17th September Coaled ship 1400 tons
Adniral Phipps Hornby hoisted his flag on board.
Transport for Canada arrived 19th [September/ with the Lincolns from Bermuda - some came aboard to look around ship Sunday 20th [September]
[Note. The Lincolns could have been British regiment based in Bermuda on garrison duty, returning home to fight in France.. The reference to 'transport' in this extract relates to the gathering together of a significant number of merchant ships which would make up the convoy taking the Canadians to England.]
Left Halifax 3 October convoying 31 transports with 30,0000 troops, horses, and field guns. With cruisers Charybdis, G ?, Do ?, Eclipse
[Note, an internet source gives the names of the escorting ships as Charybdis, (old cruiser
- Astraea class}, Diana {old cruiser - Eclipse class}, Eclipse, Glory {battleship - Canopis class}- Magnificent { battleship - Majestic class} Princess Royal {battlecruiser
- Lion class} Talbot {old cruiser - Eclipse class}]
Arrived Queenstown 14th October
Coaled ship 1499 tons Left 22nd [October]
Arrived Halifax 1 November
Coaled ship 1400 tons.

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Left Halifax, 10th November in a blizzard. Cruising off New York,
Bumped something, Thursday 19th [November]
Arrived Halifax, 21st November.
Coaled, 1150 tons Left Halifax, 24 November
Plenty of snow, wind, rain. Chasing craft around New York. .
Arrived Halifax 19th December. Blizzard. Coaled ship next day [20 December] Had to clear away snow to find collier.
Left Halifax 17th December
Cruising around New York , Xmas Eve ...? target for Suffok,.? firing; capsized target. Snowing all afternoon, evening. Dog watches prepare for Xmas .Got First watch. Freezing hard.
17 degrees below freezing Xmas day.

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Freezing hard: not much doing all day, plenty to eat, corned pork, duff cakes, nuts Pint [of] beer extra ? a man brought out from Halifax and a lot of rum. Never got rim in for being drunk. Had singsong. Got Middle watch.
Arrived Halifax 29 December 1914
Coaled ship, 1000 tons. Plenty of snow. Freezing hard nearly all the time. 20 [degrees?] frost
7 January 1915. Went out to target practice. Canadian towing target. Came on thick. Lost target. Came in harbour again.
Left Halifax , Toms birthday 12 Jan. 1915 Day and night firing.
Caught a sneezer. Arrived in Chesapeake Bay.

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Met Yank dreadnought.
[Note, US had followed British battleship design re. HMS Dreadnought class and had actually improved the 12" gun turret arrangement]
Saluted us. Returned same Stopped several steamers . Overhauled same.
Yankey 4 funnelled destroyer cruising about (Sunday)
Arrived Halifax 25 Jan. Coaled ship 1300 [tons]
Left Halifax 6th February
Arrived Halifax 17th February Coaled 1100 tons.
Left Halifax 23nl February.
Arrived Bermuda 5th March.
Docked in floating dock 8th march.
Came out of dock 29th March. Coaled ship 1150 tons.
Left Bermuda Good Friday morning, 2nd April. Caught a sneezer. No rum.
Arrived Halifax 19th April. Unloaded 6’ & 12pds. ?
Provisioned and 1300 tons coal and ammunition.
Left Halifax 23 April
Arrived Halifax 5th May

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Coaled ship 960 tons. More ammunition.
Left Halifax 15th May.
Arrived Halifax 21st May Coaled 580 tons
Left Halifax 30th May 6am
Arrived Bermuda 2nd June Coaled ship 450 tons.
100 12" 600 6 " [Note, this is probably a reference to the loading of 100 x 12 inch and 600 x 6 inch shells]
Left Bermuda 3'd June
Arrived Gibrcdtal5th June Coaled 1300 tons.
Admiral Phipps Hornby struck his flag 21st June. Left same night.
Arrived Tenedos Sunday 27th June
[Note, Island in Aegean Sea east of Lemnos, now called Bozcaada by Turks. Was in Greek possession in 1915]
Lent to Folkestone mine sweeper Sunday 4lh July 1915 Submarine hunting and searching for base for submarines

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Also acting decoy working with H 4 [H class submarine ]
Returned to Glory 23 November 1915
Left for Snivel Bay . Bombarded enemy positions. Landed at old A Beach hospital clearing station. Landed for a week. Put fin?] picket boat crew towing wounded to hospital ships. Thousands frost bitten. Returned to Mudros [Lemnos]
Left Mudros in picket boat for Kafilo for the evacuation of Sul a [Sulva] and Anzctz [Anzac Cove]
Taking off guns stores ammunition, mules &

[Page 8]
horses. - all of this work carried out under fire.
The last troops left 12 clock Sunday night 19th December. Had to steam along the beach to see if anybody left. Returned to Kafilo, thence to Mudros. Joined ship 21s' 8pm. No hammock for 8 nights.
Very quite Xmas .Base navy.
Left Mudros Boxing day 29th December. Arrived Alexandria 29lh December.
General leave 48 hours.
Left Alex. 3rd Jan 1916. Arrived Port Said 4th January 1916.
Left Port Said 6th January 1916. Anchored in larger Bitter Lake Ishmalia.
Left Ishmalia 8th January

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Geared up in Canal. Left Canal 9th January. Arrived Gulf of Suez 10th January. Proceeded to sea for target practice 3F' January.
Took up position in Canal moorings 15th February. Left same for Gulf 5th March Left Suez Saturday 18th March. Anchored Ism alia 18th March Admiral Wemyss inspected us 19th.
Left Ishmalia 21 March Arrived Port Said 21 March Left Port Said 23 March. Arrived Malta 26th March Left Malta 29th March. Arrived Gibralta 31s' March Left Gibralta 31st March. Arrived Plymouth 3 April
Left Plymouth 3 April, Arrived Ports. ? 4th April [Portsmouth 4th April 1916]