Back in Week 37, I wrote about the grandfather I never met - Jack Musgrove. I recounted how in 1916 he ran away from home to join the merchant navy in Tilbury but got on the wrong train and ended up in Portsmouth where he joined the Royal Navy.
In September 1916, after eight months at an onshore training establishment at Devonport, Jack was posted to the dreadnought battleship, HMS Hercules, and just missed out on the ship's participation in the Battle of Jutland. As this week is the anniversary of that Battle, I thought I would have a more detailed look to see if I could find out what became of the battleship after Jutland.
In September 1916, after eight months at an onshore training establishment at Devonport, Jack was posted to the dreadnought battleship, HMS Hercules, and just missed out on the ship's participation in the Battle of Jutland. As this week is the anniversary of that Battle, I thought I would have a more detailed look to see if I could find out what became of the battleship after Jutland.
After the battle, on 31 May 1916, HMS Hercules returned to base at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. The battleship saw no further direct combat for the rest of the war.
Following the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918 HMS Hercules proceeded into the German harbour at Kiel with the Allied Naval Armistice Commission and, presumably, young Jack on board, to take charge of the German naval surrender.
A few weeks later "on 21 November 1918, Hercules sailed as part of a gigantic Allied fleet, 370 ships strong, which escorted the German ships into internment" back at Scapa Flow.
Jack may not have taken much part in the Great War, but he was present at the heart of its conclusion.
Shortly after this, the status of the ship was downgraded to 'Reserve Fleet' and in March 1919 Jack was transferred to another ship. In 1921 Hercules was sold for scrap - ironically to a scrap metal company based in Keil !
Following the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918 HMS Hercules proceeded into the German harbour at Kiel with the Allied Naval Armistice Commission and, presumably, young Jack on board, to take charge of the German naval surrender.
A few weeks later "on 21 November 1918, Hercules sailed as part of a gigantic Allied fleet, 370 ships strong, which escorted the German ships into internment" back at Scapa Flow.
Jack may not have taken much part in the Great War, but he was present at the heart of its conclusion.
Shortly after this, the status of the ship was downgraded to 'Reserve Fleet' and in March 1919 Jack was transferred to another ship. In 1921 Hercules was sold for scrap - ironically to a scrap metal company based in Keil !
After the War, a large model of the ship was donated to the Imperial War Museum by the company which had originally built it. However, this was badly damaged in 1941 after a bomb fell on the gallery where it was being displayed and, for many years, the model was consigned to storage. In 2010 the museum decided they needed a centre piece for a new WW1 display. Despite the severe damage to the model, a benefactor came forward to fund its restoration.
"It was a daunting task. When the model's crate was opened for the first time, the ship was covered in a thick layer of dust, mixed with broken or powdered glass from its bomb-shattered showcase. Over the years its storage crate had exuded small quantities of gas that had corroded some of the model's metal elements. Made of solid pieces of beech wood, shrinkage over the years had caused cracks to appear in the hull. Many of the model's fittings were either missing, broken or hopelessly tangled together. The model's varnish had discoloured, turning the once sleek grey hull a sickly green-brown colour. Moving the model was a major undertaking; weighing 300kg, it took eight men to carry the model from a van to a specialist conservator's workshop".
After being successfully renovated, in 2014 HMS Hercules became, and remains, the showcase exhibit in the Museums First World War Gallery.
"It was a daunting task. When the model's crate was opened for the first time, the ship was covered in a thick layer of dust, mixed with broken or powdered glass from its bomb-shattered showcase. Over the years its storage crate had exuded small quantities of gas that had corroded some of the model's metal elements. Made of solid pieces of beech wood, shrinkage over the years had caused cracks to appear in the hull. Many of the model's fittings were either missing, broken or hopelessly tangled together. The model's varnish had discoloured, turning the once sleek grey hull a sickly green-brown colour. Moving the model was a major undertaking; weighing 300kg, it took eight men to carry the model from a van to a specialist conservator's workshop".
After being successfully renovated, in 2014 HMS Hercules became, and remains, the showcase exhibit in the Museums First World War Gallery.