The destroyer HMS 'Mentor' (1914) leaving the Stour with damaged bows.

A bow view of the destroyer HMS 'Mentor' (1914) leaving the river Stour. She is flying an unidentified signal as she passes the flagship. On the right are two light cruisers. The outer one is probably the flagship 'Arethusa' (1913), while the inner one could be one of five: Cleopatra (1915), Conquest (1915), Penelope (1914), Aurora (1913) or Undaunted (1914). Behind the light cruisers is Shotley.

The forward 18ft of the forecastle deck collapsed as a result of a torpedo explosion beneath the bow earlier that morning on 17 August when on a mine laying exercise off the Amrun Bank, 25 miles north of Heligoland. The ship was part of a larger group attacked by German torpedo boats. Mentor was able to steam back to Harwich. Aurora was in Harwich on 17 August.

Object Details

ID: N22526
Type: Roll film negative
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Hooper, Lieutenant Geoffroy William Winsmore
Vessels: Mentor (1914)
Date made: 17 August 1915
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Captain Gunn Collection
Measurements: Overall: 82 mm x 109 mm