'Account of the Raid on Zeebrugge by ships of the Royal Navy', by Leading Stoker Norbert Joseph McCrory, c.1918 - Part 2

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On arriving on board we received the

congratulations of Admiral Livingstone, the 

Captain & Sir Joseph Cook High Commissioner

of Australia thanking us who represented

Australia so well & above all returning in

full numbers. Thus you will see that

Australians serving afloat did their little

share to keep the Southern Cross before 

the eyes of all nations & prove their worth.

Surrender of German Fleet.

On the 15^th-11-18 the German Ship [[Keswing?]]

arrived at the Firth of Forth about 10.30 am

flying the White Flag & carrying the German 

Staff on board. She anchored on the

starboard side of H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth 

Flagship of the Grand Fleet. After paying

the usual respect as a foreigner the German 

Admiral & Staff boarded the Queen Elizabeth

to interview Admiral Sir David Beatty who

acted on behalf of the British Admiralty.

He gave them instructions & asked if they

approved & they answered on behalf of their

Government "yes".

On 16.11.18 they were well on their way 

back to Germany. On 19.11.18 the German

Fleet sailed from the once famous Kiel

Canal to surrender to the good old

Bull Dog of the Seas.

On 20.11.18 the British Grand Fleet received

orders to proceed to sea at 2 1/2 hrs notice.

All the destroyers available had proceeded

to escort the Germans across the North Sea

to a given point & there to be assisted by 

the Grand Fleet. The number of destroyers

about 150. On reaching the German Fleet

at once wireless the their future movements

The night of the 20^th was one of anxious

moments for all on board the ships of

the Grand Fleet, because we expected

any moment to receive our signal to

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23.11.18. This day flagships & senior ships of

the British navy had picked parties detailed

to search various ships of the German Fleet

to make sure they had carried the terms of 

the Armistice, I was serving on board

H.M.A.S. Australian flagship 2^nd Battle 

Cruiser Squadron. We were detailed to

search the S.M.S. Hindenburg. On arriving

on board we were surprised to find

[[ABC?]] in charge of the ship. Of course the

German Navy had mentioned that is why 

the Admirals had to take second place

on board. We were treated with the 

greatest respect & courtesy. After making

a thorough search we arrived on deck

to return to our ship but not before we

were surrounded by eager Germans

asking for food & tobacco etc.

This fleet, the German, was never built

to travel further than the North Sea.

All the space available was used to make

the ships one for fighting only. The personnel

was second consideration. We were told

that after 48 hrs manoeuvers they would

return to port & all live on shore.

These ships were constructed in a different

way to our Navy. Their guns had higher 

elevation & their range finders very

powerful & their turn of speed about

equal. The Ship Company that brought

them over had no money & only the clothes

they stood in except for a few.

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attack the enemy, but time [[rolled?]] by & a full

head of steam engines ready, but were not

required until the middle watch of the

morning of the 21.11.18. Each squadron has

previous details had been issued, they proceeded

to sea. The morning was cold & bleak & before

long a heavy mist & rain began to fall

thereby forming a curtain around the downfall

of the second greatest navy in the world.

About six bells we surrounded the German

Fleet headed by the Flagship "Seydlitz"

All guns of the German Ships were trained for

& aft. Our guns trained on the beam ready

for action. After a while the Germans 

trained their guns on the beam which made

us think they were after business but they

had the laugh on us & came under 

instructions from the British Flag to an 

anchorage at the mouth of the Firth of Forth

about three Bells (mid-day). After they had 

anchored & the British Fleet had surrounded 

them, [[?]] the British Fleet anchored & Admiral 

& Senior Officers boarded the different ships

to give instructions & a hurried inspection.

The German Fleet received orders from

the Queen Elizabeth "at sunset, you will 

lower your Flag never to fly again

without my permission" this is how

the famous German Fleet came to an

end before the British Fleet that once

they challenged for the Supremacy of the 

Seas. Now people may know what 

the English Navy is to the Empire. 

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25.11.18. The German Fleet sails the seas

once again but under escort of the British

Navy to Scapa Flow for internment.

Their last sail in the North Sea.

They were anchored well inside & under

a strong guard to await further instructions

from the British Admiralty.

While awaiting these instructions the Germans

opened the sea cocks & sunk every ship of

the once famous & pride of their nation

This is the end of the German Fleet that

tried to tell the world they won the battle 

of Jutland.

Enclosed please find

Disposition of the Grand Fleet escorting

German High Seas Fleet into Firth of Forth.

1 DRU 429