§ 15. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the small boat in which the late Lord Kitchener and the late Colonel Fitzgerald left the "Hampshire" on 5th June, 1916, has been purchased by a private individual; and whether this boat can be acquired by the Admiralty as a national relic?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Davidson)As regards the first part of the question, I cannot find the slightest evidence that Colonel Fitzgerald's body was found in 1905 this boat or that he or Lord Kitchener ever set foot in it. The Admiralty evidence based on contemporary official reports and confirmed by recent inquiries is that Colonel Fitzgerald's body was picked up at sea by the rescue vessels the night of the disaster, 5th June, or early next morning. It was identified and reported to the Admiralty on 6th June. I take this opportunity of adding that the stories recently circulated in the Press, either that this distinguished officer was picked up alive some days after the loss or that his body was disfigured, me false.
To revert to the boat: The boat in question is a 16-foot skiff dinghy which belonged to the "Hampshire" in 1915 and wits approved to be replaced by a new one in May, 1916. It is therefore doubtful whether it was on board "Hampshire" on 5th June. The evidence which the Admiralty has published—as to the attempt to launch the "Hampshire's" boats—is that efforts were made to get Lord Kitchener into the captain's galley, an entirely different boat, but the weight of evidence is that no boats, but only rafts or floats, got clear of the ship. A fragment of a boat which came ashore in the Orkneys is already in the Imperial War Museum. Another boat came ashore near Thurso on the mainland. A Press report in 1922 falsely stated that this latter boat was a dinghy and contained Colonel Fitzgerald's body. It was, in fact, a 27 or:30 foot whaler, and was empty. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONIs it not a fact that this particular boat was picked up the day after the tragedy, off Hoy Head, by one of our patrolling trawlers? Does not the hon. Member think it desirable, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, that all the information in the possession of the Admiralty should be published?
Vice-Admiral Sir REGINALD HALLIs it not a fact that all the evidence at the Admiralty tends to show that Lord Kitchener never left the "Hampshire" after the explosion?
Mr. BECKETTCan the hon. Member say what steps the Government propose to take in view of the information which has come to hand with regard to the gross misrepresentation now being perpetrated by certain newspapers?
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURWill the Admiralty be prepared to call witnesses who can be produced from the 15 men who were survivors from the disaster? Will they be prepared to receive their evidence?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe evidence of these survivors, all of them, is in the possession of the Admiralty. It is on that evidence that this statement is made.
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURWere they not all, after they had been interviewed, dispatched to different parts of the world?
Mr. DAVIDSONYes; but, surely, recollection within 12 hours of the disaster would be more clear than it would be at this time of day.
§ Commander FANSHAWEAs a member of the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the ship, I should like to ask the hon. Member if he is not aware that only 12 men were saved alive from the "Hampshire," and that it is not true to say that more than 12 men survived the disaster?