Tributes have been paid to the 32 people who lost their lives in the Royal Navy Submarine K13 sinking in the Gareloch during routine trials on the 108th anniversary of their deaths.
Veterans, serving and trainee submariners came together to remember those whose lives were lost on August 29, 1917.
Over the weekend, over 100 serving and veteran submariners took part in remembrance events held in honour of the tragic maritime accident.
Andy Knox, primary organiser, and Chairperson of the Submariner’s Association – West of Scotland Branch (WoS), was in attendance.
Mr Knox said: “The K13 memorial weekend is of the utmost importance to both the veteran community and serving submariners, it is hugely significant that we, as a community remember those brave submariners that paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
“It is also poignant that the trainee submariners attend the event every year as they are made aware of our history, heritage, and ethos.”
HMS K13 sunk whilst on sea trials and was salvaged and recommissioned as HMS K22.
During a dive on the morning of August 29, 1917, a small leak had been reported in the boiler rooms, so a second dive was programmed for that same afternoon.
All boiler room vents were opened to clear the boiler room of steam to aid searching for the leaks. At about 3pm, the submarine went to diving stations, and after confirming that the engine room had been shut off, the submarine was dived.
Click here for more news and sport from West Dunbartonshire.
As she dived, seawater began entering K13’s engine room, and the submarine’s commanding officer, Lieutenant-Commander Godfrey Herbert ordered watertight doors to be shut and ballast tanks to be blown to bring the submarine to the surface, and then the drop keels released.
Despite that, the dive could not be halted and the submarine was became stuck fast on the bottom of the Gareloch.
She had 80 people on board – including 53 crew, 14 employees of the shipbuilders, five sub-contractors, five Admiralty officials, Joseph Duncan, a River Clyde pilot, Commander Francis Goodhart and engineering officer, Lieutenant Leslie Rideal, both from her sister ship K14, which was still under construction.
The crew of another submarine undergoing trials on the Gareloch watched K13 dive and became concerned that the dive did not look right and the alarm was raised.
To commemorate those who died, the special weekend event was held in their honour.
Mr Knox, along with members of the Submarine Qualifying Course (SMQ), Base Executive Department, and the Clyde Security Team ensured that veterans and naval families, some of which had ties to K13, could be present over the weekend.
On Saturday, January 25, attendees were transported to Elder Park, Govan, where a small memorial service and wreath laying took place.
Fairfield supervisor John Steel was onboard when the boat went down – his body was never found. The Govan Memorial is opposite to the Fairfield Shipyard and pays homage to the employee who lost his life that day.
After the service those attending returned to HM Naval Base Clyde, where a remembrance dinner was held by the Submariner’s Association.
During the dinner, they raised over £800 for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society Dumbarton. Trainee submariners were also invited along to the dinner.
On Sunday, January 26, members made their way across to Faslane Cemetery, where a memorial service was held, in remembrance to the tragedy.
During the service, retired Commander Chris Leggett MBE, Vice Chairperson of the Submariner’s Association WoS, laid a wreath on Commander Goodhart’s grave.
Also in attendance were the Helensburgh Sea Cadets who had the honour of ringing K13s bell, as a mark of remembrance. It was sounded 32 times with each ring representing a life that was lost that fateful day.
Commander Submarine Flotilla, Commodore Paul Dunn OBE, attended both memorial services.
He said: “This weekend the submarine community joined together to commemorate the loss of K13.
“From veterans to our newest recruits, the weekend was a reminder of the sacrifice that previous generations of submariners and industry made to enable our submarine service to evolve into the modern capability we are able to deploy around the world today.”
K13 was one of twelve K Class submarines – steam engine operated. With the yard number 522 at Fairfield’s Govan shipyard, she was laid down in October 1915. A little over a year later, in November 1916, she was officially launched.
After the submarine sank, a series of failed rescues were attempted. Lieutenant-Commander Godfrey Herbert and Commander Francis Goodhart attempted to escape by using the space between the outer and inner hatches of the conning tower.
Herbert made it to the surface and helped conduct the rest of the rescue. However, Goodhart’s body was later discovered trapped in the Wheelhouse.