[Note: ADM 137/3621A-3621E are produced as a single document: order as ADM 137/3621...

[Note: ADM 137/3621A-3621E are produced as a single document: order as ADM 137/3621].

Folios 1-14 and 16: missing or blank.

Folio 15-23: Signals. Cover (folio 15).

Folio 17: Number 395. 26 May 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C SECRET. Lord Kitchener is proceeding to Archangel with mission consisting of Brig. General Ellershaw, Sir F. Donaldson, Colonel Fitzgerald, Mr. Obeirne Foreign Office, a Junior Officer and six servants. The Mission leaving London by train on 5 June and to leave Scapa Flow on evening of 6 June. A cruiser to take the Mission from Scapa to Archangel.

Folio 17: Number 941. 27 May 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. Proposing HMS Hampshire and asking if coal will be available at Archangel, if not speed will be about 13 knots.

Folio 17: Number 403. 27 May 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. HMS Hampshire is suitable and a collier will be sent to Yukanskie.

Folio 17: Number 947. 27 May 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. Enquiring if HMS Hampshire is to wait at Yukanskie.

Folio 17: Number 411. 28 May 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. Collier sailed to Yukanskie and also coal available there. Missions return date unknown so probability HMS Hampshire will not have to wait.

Folio 17: Number 440. 2 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. Lord Kitchener wants to board HMS Hampshire at Thurso.

Folio 17: Number 35. 4 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty that above is undesirable owing to submarine danger and should come over [to Scapa] by destroyer.

Folio 18: Number 495. 4 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. Lord Kitchener arriving Thurso morning of 5 June 1916 and destroyer approved.

Folio 18: Number 51. 5 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. Lord Kitchener will return to Archangel about 21 June. Propose HMS Hampshire to wait there and collier sent to replenish coal used.

Folio 18: Number 514. 5 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C and C-in-C to HMS Hampshire. Approve waiting and confirming collier sent.

Folio 18: Number 57. 5 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. By what code or cypher can HMS Hampshire communicate by W/T with HMS Iphigenia.

Folio 18: Number 61. 6 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. Deeply regret to report that HMS Hampshire with Lord Kitchener and staff on board was sunk by mine or torpedo off Brough of Birsay, west side of Orkney about 8.0 p.m. last night. Heavy seas were running. Searching at sea and ashore. Fear that there will be no survivors.

Folio 19: Number 522. 6 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. Lord Kitchener had number of most secret papers. Search floating wreckage and coast.

Folio 19: Number 65. 6 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. This was already arranged.

Folio 19: Number 68 6 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. All hopes of mission being saved must be abandoned. Thirteen survivors ashore, one since died. Among bodies 2nd Lieutenant Macpherson on staff as Russian interpreter.

Folio 19: Number 69. 6 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. All communications between Orkneys and Main Land suspended as information regarding Lord Kitchener will not yet be published. Of great importance not to give position of sinking.

Folio 19: Number 528. 6 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. Further stoppage of communication is not essential.

Folio 19: Number 76. 6 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. Body of Colonel Fitzgerald and over 100 bodies of crew recovered. Are bodies of Fitzgerald and Macpherson to be buried here?

Folio 20: Number 529. 6 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. Admiralty announces that HMS Hampshire, Captain Herbert J. Savill, with Lord Kitchener and his staff was sunk last night, west of Orkney by mine or torpedo. Four boats were seen to leave the ship but as a heavy sea was running, only some bodies have been found, and there is little hope of there being any survivors.

Folio 21: Number 541. 7 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. The War Office has ascertained that Lieutenant Macpherson is to be buried locally and Colonel Fitzgerald's body is to be brought to London.

Folio 21: Number 100. 8 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. Moored mines found today in locality where HMS Hampshire sank.

Folio 21: Number 563. 8 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. Cabinet asking for details so request by 1st Lord for report after survivors interviewed.

Folio 21: Number 109. 8 June 1916, C-in-C to Admiralty. For First Lord, report is due at Admiralty tomorrow by messenger.

Folio 22: 22 June 1916, C-in-C to Rear Admiral 2nd Cruiser Squadron. Forward list of bodies from HMS Hampshire stating where buried.

Folio 22: Number 725. 22 June 1916, Admiralty to C-in-C. For probate, names required of Lord Kitchener's staff and their attendants embarking on HMS Hampshire. Otherwise, ascertain composition of party on passing Inverness or at Thurso. S.N.O. Inverness to Admiralty. Nothing known of party passing Inverness.

Folio 22: Rear Admiral 2nd Cruiser Squadron to C-in-C. Have no information as to bodies recovered but have requested Rear Admiral Scapa to forward list to you and Admiralty.

Folio 22: Rear Admiral Scapa to C-in-C. Have furnished Admiralty with all particulars, am forwarding list to you for your information.

Folio 22: C-in-C to Rear Admiral Scapa. Ascertain from Alouette retinue of Lord Kitchener: names, description or status, and number.

Folio 23: 24 June 1916, Rear Admiral Cyclops to C-in-C. Alouette reports names not take. As far as can be recollected, 6 crossed over with 4 in khaki and 2 in civilian clothes. The 4 in khaki included Detective Sergeant McLaughlin, Driver Brown, Lord Kitchener's personal servant, and Sir F. Donaldson's servant. Thurso reported 7 not 6 embarked.

Folio 23: Number 269. C-in-C to Admiralty. Gentlemen named in letter of 7 June 1916 and in addition Mr Leslie Robertson lunched with C-in-C on 5 June 1916 and sailed in HMS Hampshire.

Folio 24: Telegram, 6 June 1916 from Senior Officer 2nd Cruiser Squadron to C-in-C. Temporary Surgeon Lieutenant Arthur Riddle, HMS Hampshire, proceeded on leave 4 June 1916.

Folio 25: Admiralty to C-in-C, 7 Oct. 1916, forwarded to Vice Admiral Commanding Orkney and Shetland. For probate purposes, who identified body of Colonel Fitzgerald? Reply 9 October. Identified through uniform and by personal belongings by Surgeon Bainbridge and E. J. Lincoln of hospital ship Soudan.

Folios 26-46: Naval Signals concerning search for bodies and wreckage also number of survivors.

Folios 47-49: No 10 H, SECRET, 5 June 1916 from Vice Admiral Frederic Edward Errington Brock, commander Orkney and Shetland to C-in-C. Cover (folio 47).

1. At 8.p.m. received a report from Captain Walker, Officer Commanding Western Patrol that a battle cruiser appeared to be in difficulties between Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head. Thought it probable to be Hampshire getting into heavy seas but ordered a yacht and trawler to be in readiness.

2. At 8.35p.m. Captain Walker reported 'ship down'. He had already directed all available vessels to the scene. Ordered to send to Birsay any motor vehicle available at Stromness.

3. At 8.50p.m. I received a message from Birsay that a four funnelled cruiser had sunk twenty minutes earlier.

4. At 9.p.m. directed Colonel G Harris R.M.A. to proceed to Birsay and he left at once with Commander Bertram Nicholson, Commanding the Northern Patrols.

5. At 9.08 p.m. report that 4 boat loads of people were off Marwick Head. I directed that all inhabitants along the coast to assist.

6. Between 9.35 and 9.40 p.m. all destroyers sent by your orders passed through Hoy Sound.

Listing continued in ADM 137/3621B.