HC Deb 24 July 1922 vol 157 cc39-41
75. Mr. LANE-FOX

asked the. Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty have now any further information as to the loss of His Majesty's Drifter "Blue Sky," last heard of on 13th June; why it was that, though this vessel had orders to report twice daily and did not report after 6 p.m. on the 13th June, no action was taken to inquire into the matter until 17th June; whether she was supplied with bad coal; and, if so who was responsible for this?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Amery)

As the answer is rather long, I will have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Viscount CURZON

Is there any foundation for the rumour that "Blue Sky" was not supplied with Welsh coal?

Mr. AMERY

That is answered at considerable length. She was supplied with Welsh coal. Apparently the officer was not satisfied, and, for some reason or other, took further coal on board at Newhaven.

Following is the answer:

The Admiralty has discovered no further evidence which throws light upon the cause of the disaster; the vessel, however, was not in distress when she last signalled at 6 p.m. on the 13th June.

"Blue Sky" was ordered to report twice daily to the nearest shore station, mainly to practise the wireless telegraph operator and to ensure that the wireless telegraph was in proper working order; the fact that no S.O.S. signal was made shows that the disaster, however caused, was very sudden.

"Blue Sky" left Newhaven about 1130 on 13th June and "Queen Elizabeth" left Portsmouth at 1700 on 14th June for Invergordon; as "Blue Sky's" wireless telegraph transmission was only effective up to 50 miles, "Queen Elizabeth" did not anticipate receiving any direct messages from her. Shore wireless telegraph stations would have reported any material communications they had from "Blue Sky" by land wire, which, if sent, the Commander-in-Chief would have expected to have received on his arrival at Invergordon.

On the Commander-in-Chief's arrival at Invergordon on 17th June, it was found that there was no land wire and that "Blue Sky" had not arrived. Orders were at once given to "Castor" to call "Blue Sky" at frequent intervals, and inquiries were also made from the "Revenge," "Pandora," and other Atlantic Fleet ships as they arrived. Meanwhile, a message was received by the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, from the Commander-in-Chief, Nore, to say that a life buoy, marked "Queen Elizabeth," had been picked up. It was considered that this might. have belonged to "Blue Sky," but it could easily have been washed overboard, and no anxiety was felt concerning the vessel, which had frequently made similar passages, until the wreckage was washed ashore.

The vessel filled up with the very best Welsh coal on 31st May, and had 14 tons on board when she sailed, which would have taken her to Aberdeen, but she-would probably have coaled at Rosyth on her passage north.

The Officer in Command did report that the coal was bad when he was at Spithead, and in view of the quality of the coal which was supplied this is not understood; the complaint, however, may have been due to the poor draught which would have been experienced in the calm weather then prevailing.

The fact of the coal being good or bad would have no bearing on the disaster; if it had been of bad quality, the stokers would have had harder work in cleaning the fires and stoking, but there would have been no difficulty in keeping the requisite amount of steam.

In any case, "Blue Sky" took fresh coal at Newhaven, and the Commanding Officer reported that he hoped to make better speed.