Pictured: K13 memorial bell K13 Memorial Service Royal Navy submariners past and present gathered today (January 26) to remember the sinking of the early submarine K13. The ceremony, which was held at Faslane Chapel, was attended by veterans, serving submariners from HM Naval Base Clyde, and local Sea Cadets. The steam-propelled submarine K13 sank in the Gareloch on January 29, 1917, during sea trials. On board at the time were fifty-three Royal Navy submariners, fourteen employees of Govan shipbuilder Fairfields, five Admiralty officials, a pilot, and the captain and engineer from sister submarine K14.
Pictured: Two Ropyal Marine Cadets man the K13 memorial bell. K13 Memorial Service Royal Navy submariners past and present gathered today (January 26) to remember the sinking of the early submarine K13. The ceremony, which was held at Faslane Chapel, was attended by veterans, serving submariners from HM Naval Base Clyde, and local Sea Cadets. The steam-propelled submarine K13 sank in the Gareloch on January 29, 1917, during sea trials. On board at the time were fifty-three Royal Navy submariners, fourteen employees of Govan shipbuilder Fairfields, five Admiralty officials, a pilot, and the captain and engineer from sister submarine K14.
Pictured: Veterans K13 Memorial Service Royal Navy submariners past and present gathered today (January 26) to remember the sinking of the early submarine K13. The ceremony, which was held at Faslane Chapel, was attended by veterans, serving submariners from HM Naval Base Clyde, and local Sea Cadets. The steam-propelled submarine K13 sank in the Gareloch on January 29, 1917, during sea trials. On board at the time were fifty-three Royal Navy submariners, fourteen employees of Govan shipbuilder Fairfields, five Admiralty officials, a pilot, and the captain and engineer from sister submarine K14.
Members of the Submariners Association at the Faslane memorial service; Two young cadets are given the honour of ringing the ship’s bell, and the K13 bell.
By Gavin Carr
SERVING Royal Navy Submariners, veterans of the Silent Service and cadets were at Faslane Chaplaincy on Sunday, January 26, to commemorate the sinking of submarine K13.
The early steam-driven submarine sank in the Gare Loch in 1917 with 80 people onboard, leading to the death of 32 men, some of them buried at Faslane Cemetery.
Members of the Submariners Association visited HM Naval Base Clyde on Saturday, January 25, for a weekend of K13 commemorations, beginning with a trip to Govan where a monument to shipyard workers who died during the tragedy is situated in Elder Park.
The next day they joined naval personnel at the Naval Base’s Church of St John the Evangelist for a solemn ceremony led by Royal Navy Chaplains.
Members of Helensburgh Sea Scouts Group – TS Neptune – were given the honour of ringing K13’s ship’s bell during the ceremony – 32 times, once for every person who perished on board.
Submarine K13 sank during her sea trials on January 29, 1917. Onboard were Royal Navy Submariners, Admiralty Pilots and workers from shipbuilders Fairfield’s.
Captain of K13, Lieutenant Commander Godfrey Herbert, accompanied by Commander Francis Goodhart, who was the visiting Captain of submarine K14, attempted to escape from the stricken vessel, hoping to use their expert knowledge to guide rescue efforts.
Using the space between the inner and outer hatches as an airlock the pair tried to make it to the surface. Tragically Commander Goodhart died during the effort.
The 57-hour ordeal came to an end when an airline was attached allowing the bow to be raised and a hole cut in the side of the submarine. 48 survivors were rescued.
