The First Battle of Dover Strait 1916: When German Raiders Struck

The First Battle of Dover Strait: A Night of Naval Drama

Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round as we recount the dramatic events that unfolded in the murky waters of the Dover Strait on that fateful night of October 26th, 1916. While the great armies of Europe remained locked in their deadly embrace on the Western Front, a daring German raid would challenge British control of these vital waters.

The State of War - October 1916

By October 1916, the war had reached a critical phase. The Battle of the Somme was still raging on the Western Front, having begun in July. The naval arms race between Britain and Germany had largely been decided by the Battle of Jutland earlier that year, but German raiders and U-boats continued to pose a serious threat to British maritime operations. The Royal Navy maintained its steadfast vigil across the Channel. The Dover Strait, that narrow sea passage between Britain and France, had become the crucible of our nation’s maritime defence.

The Strategic Importance of the Dover Strait

The Dover Barrage, was our primary defence against the Kaiser’s unterseebooten. This network of mines and nets stretched across the Strait, guarded by our brave drifters and destroyer patrols. Yet on this black October night, the enemy would prove this defence was not impregnable. The Dover Strait, that narrow sea passage between Britain and France, served as the Royal Navy’s crucial maritime checkpoint. The Dover Barrage, a complex network of minefields and nets, was Britain’s answer to the menacing German U-boat threat. This defensive line required constant patrol and maintenance by British forces, making them vulnerable to enemy action.

The German Surprise Attack

In the darkness of October 26th, 1916, German forces launched a bold raid. Two flotillas of German destroyers, commanded by Commander Ludwig von Berger, slipped through the British defences. In a masterfully executed operation, German destroyers of the Flanders Flotilla, under the cover of darkness, infiltrated the Strait. These modern vessels, approached with engines running silent, their crews at battle stations. Their timing was impeccable – they struck when the British patrol forces were at their most vulnerable.

The Attack Unfolds

At approximately 22:30 hours, the German force struck with lightning efficiency. The first victim was the innocent merchant vessel SS Queen, struck by devastating torpedo fire. As our brave patrol craft rushed to assist, they too fell victim to the German trap.

HMS Flirt, under the command of Lieutenant R.P. Kellett, rushed to aid the stricken drifter Waveney II. In an act of supreme gallantry, while attempting to rescue the drifter’s crew, Flirt herself came under intense fire. The destroyer, caught in the searchlights of German vessels, was hit repeatedly and went down with tragic loss of life.

Vessels Lost That Night

The First Battle of the Dover Strait underscores the strategic importance of the English Channel during World War I and the relentless efforts of both the British and German navies to control this vital artery.

The Loss of HMS Flirt

One of the night’s most tragic episodes involved HMS Flirt, a destroyer engaged in drift net duties. When reports came in of an attack on the drifter Waveney, HMS Flirt moved to investigate. In an act of valour that would cost her dearly, she approached to rescue survivors. The German destroyers, lying in wait, unleashed a devastating torpedo attack. HMS Flirt went down with significant loss of life, though exact numbers remain uncertain in historical records.

SS The Queen's Final Journey

The merchant vessel SS The Queen became another victim of the German raid. The vessel was intercepted and sunk by German destroyers, adding to the toll of that October night.

The Remarkable Tale of HMS Zubian

Perhaps the most extraordinary story of this engagement involves HMS Nubian. This Tribal-class destroyer, while engaging the enemy, suffered a direct torpedo hit that severed her bow clean away. Yet, in true British spirit, this was not to be the end of her tale.

In a remarkable feat of engineering ingenuity, the Admiralty salvaged Nubian’s stern section. By chance, another Tribal-class destroyer, HMS Zulu, had suffered damage to her stern in a separate engagement. In an unprecedented decision, the two damaged vessels were joined together at Chatham Dockyard, creating what sailors affectionately dubbed “HMS Zubian” – a perfect marriage of British resourcefulness.