Four: Able Seaman A. Mitchell, Royal Navy, later Royal Fleet Reserve, who survived the sinki...

Four: Able Seaman A. Mitchell, Royal Navy, later Royal Fleet Reserve, who survived the sinking of H.M.S. Victoria, 22 June 1893 1914-15 Star (124367. A. Mitchell. A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (124367 A. Mitchell. A.B. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (124367 (Po. B.356) A. Mitchell. A.B. R.F.R.) good very fine (4) £200-£240 --- Alfred Mitchell was born in Brighton, Sussex, on 12 December 1867 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. St. Vincent on 11 September 1883. He was promoted Able Seaman on 1 January 1887, and was appointed to H.M.S. Victoria on 1 April 1893. He was serving in her when she was involved in the infamous collision with H.M.S. Camperdown on 22 June 1893, but survived the sinking of the Victoria, and was awarded a claim of £3, 3s, 8d for clothing lost. A Famous Naval Disaster: The Collision of H.M.S. Victoria and H.M.S. Camperdown On 22 June 1893, Admiral Sir George Tryon put to sea with a squadron of 13 ships from an anchorage off Beirut, bound for the coast off Tripoli. The vessels steamed in two columns, H.M.S. Victoria, his flagship, leading one, and Rear-Admiral Markham, in H.M.S. Camperdown, heading the other. At about 2 p.m., Admiral Tryon sent for his Flag Captain and Staff Commander, telling them of his intention to invert the two columns of ships at six cables distance, a suggestion that alerted the latter to the possible danger of a collision. Very tactfully, for the Admiral was not in the habit of being questioned, his Staff Commander suggested a distance of eight cables as more appropriate. The Admiral responded in the affirmative. Minutes later, however, he hoisted a signal which stated that the fleet was to form a column of divisions line ahead, ‘with columns disposed abeam to port, columns to be six cables apart’. Once more, ever so tactfully, via the Flag Lieutenant, the Staff Commander asked for confirmation of the signal but the former returned with his tail between his legs: the Admiral was to have his own way. By way of confirmation, Tryon now hoisted another signal: ‘Second division alter course in succession, sixteen points (180 degrees) to starboard preserving the order of the fleet. First division alter course in succession, sixteen points to port preserving the order of the Fleet’. Almost alone the Staff Commander had dared to question the Admiral’s orders, but now the fearful implications were recognised by all. Rear-Admiral Markham, aboard the Camperdown, was stunned. Accordingly he signalled the Victoria, ‘Do you wish evolution to be performed as indicated by the signal?’ but back came the Admiral’s terse reply, ‘What are you waiting for?’ - short of a court-martial for disobeying orders, Markham was now powerless to act. Thus the Camperdown and Victoria, both steaming at just over eight knots, commenced the fatal manoeuvre and within minutes the former had struck the Victoria on her starboard bow. The order to close watertight doors and to make ready the collision mat had already been given when disaster appeared inevitable but the volume of water rushing into the Victoria was too great to be stemmed: the initial impact forced her 70 feet through the water and left a gaping hole 12 feet wide at upper deck level and 18 feet wide below the waterline. An attempt was made to reach land but, as the steam pressure fell and the helm would not respond, preparations were made to abandon ship. On the bridge, Admiral Tryon muttered to the Staff Commander and the Flag Lieutenant, ‘It’s all my doing, it’s all my fault.’ He then added in a shaky voice, ‘I think she’s going down.’ ‘Yes, sir,’ replied the Staff Commander, ‘I think she is.’ Soon afterwards she turned completely over and sank with the loss of the Admiral, 22 Officers and 336 ratings. The entire episode had taken little more than ten minutes. The Staff Commander, the last man to see the Admiral alive, survived and later said: ‘He went down and was seen by no-one again; he was perfectly calm and collected to the last, and died as he had lived, a brave man.’ Rescue boats quickly gathered around the scene and managed to pick up about 290 men, including Commander Jellicoe, the future First Sea Lord; the Camperdown was temporarily repaired and sailed for Malta. It was here, one month later, that the surviving Officers of H.M.S. Victoria were tried by Court Martial for the loss of their ship. The court heard evidence from 17-27 July 1893 and its findings absolved those on trial of any blame, with the disaster being solely attributed to the actions of Admiral Tryon. Mitchell was amongst the survivors, and was shore discharged on 12 December 1895, time expired. He subsequently joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Portsmouth on 18 January 1902, and was recalled for War service on 2 August 1914. He served throughout the Great War, finally being shore demobilised on 30 January 1919. Sold with copied record of service.