News - 2014

09:00 Tuesday 22 Jul 2014 CWLCentenary of first shot at sea in the First World War marked by sail past by Royal Navy

Photo: Chris Ison

One hundred years after the first shot at sea was fired by the Royal Navy a day after the First World War in Britain was declared, the National Museum of the Royal Navy will mark the centenary by inviting a sail past by RN patrol vessel HMS Mersey off the Royal Yacht Squadron during Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.

It was on August 5th 1914 that the first shot at sea was fired from the gun of HMS Lance in the North Sea. The gun is now a permanent exhibit in the HMS - Hear My Story gallery at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

On Tuesday August 5th, 2014, a single cannon will be fired from the Royal Yacht Squadron at 1000hrs and spectators and competitors will join together for a one minute silence in memory of all those who have served in defence of the nation. A further cannon will signify the end of the silence. In addition, this year’s race for The Britannia Cup, run by the Royal Yacht Squadron, will be held in commemoration of the centenary of the Great War at Sea.

The Royal Yacht Squadron played an important supporting role during the First World War.  Members who owned large steam yachts were quick to offer their vessels to the Admiralty when war was declared and 38 were requisitioned.

Once an owner had agreed to lend his yacht for the duration of the war, his vessel was taken to a naval dockyard - usually Portsmouth - to be fitted out for war service.  Valuable items were removed and replaced by guns, the decks were strengthened to take them and, of course, they were painted grey. 

Of the 38 yachts, four were sunk by mines, one was lost in a collision, one was wrecked while chasing a submarine in heavy weather and all the others survived the war. Four other yachts served as Hospital Ships and the club’s headquarters (the Castle at Cowes) was opened up to convalescent naval officers.

Professor Dominic Tweddle, Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy said: “It is commonly believed that the First World War was fought entirely in the trenches, however our naval forces were engaged in battle across the world. Some 43,244 naval personnel lost their lives during the war. That single shot from HMS Lance signified the start of a campaign at sea that came at considerable human cost.”

“Cowes Week is acknowledged the world over as one of the most prestigious sailing events and we are touched that the organisers and the Royal Navy join with us in marking this sombre and thought-provoking centenary in a time-honoured fashion.”