Database: Thomas Bradshaw

Stoker 1st class K9494  Thomas Bradshaw
 

The photo of Thomas and following information kindly provide by Lesley Baxendale.
Thomas is her grandmother's nephew
 

Battle of Dogger Bank. 24th January 1915.
A German force of 4 Battle Cruisers, 4 light cruisers and 22 destroyers left their German port to attack targets on the English Coastline. On the same day a Royal navy fleet of 6 battle cruisers, 8 light cruisers and 28 destroyers had left Scapa Flow to patrol the North Sea.
The naval battle which ensued lasted three hours with the German losing the battle Cruiser Blucher which was sunk by gun fire and torpedo hits. The British flagship HMS Lion was hit in the engine room by a shell and was halted. Tiger withdrew leaving HMS New Zealand to take charge of the pursuit. In the confusion that followed this change of command the British fleet switched tactics and HMS New Zealand also aimed at Blucher.
The remainder of the German ships, much slower than the British one's, were thus allowed to escape from almost certain annihilation. The battle resulted in the loss of over 900 German sailors lives and one battle cruiser.

The British losses were 15 fatalities and no lost ships.
For the British navy though the battle, whilst won, was a missed opportunity to inflict much higher damage on the German Fleet.

HMS Tiger