Lough Swilly in the First World War

The Apt Title of the "Scapa Flow" of Ireland was given to Lough Swilly by a writer reminiscing about his experiences in Donegal during the 1914-1918 warfare. Few in Great Britain, and less in many parts of Ireland, know of the important part played by Lough Swilly in the perpetual naval warfare against the serious submarine menace of the first World War.

Sinking of H.M.S. "Audacious".
War Incident Recalled by a Naval Officer.
Taken from The Book of Inishowen by Harry Percival Swan

A loud explosion, which must have been heard all over the Inishowen Peninsula, marked a very dramatic and memorable incident in the Great War. After the Grand Fleet, under Admiral Jellicoe, had been at Scapa Flow for three months it was found that German submarines had been able to penetrate through the Boom-defences there. On this discovery the Grand Fleet immediately left for Lough Swilly.

A few days later on 27th October 1914, a squadron of this Fleet was engaged at battle practise 40 miles distant from the entrance to Lough Swilly. The squadron consisted of H.M. Ships "George V", "Ajax", "Centurion" and Audacious". The latter ship, doing 18 knots, struck a German mine, which exploded on the port side. This was at 8.40 am. At one o'clock six destroyers came to the rescue, and a little later H.M.S. "Liverpool" and S.S. "Olympic" arrived and stood by ready to afford assistance. At seven pm the order was given "Abandon Shop", when all on board were taken off, and then at nine pm a terrific explosion occurred. Large fragments of the "Audacious" were blown sky high, and on board H.M.S. "Liverpool", distant more than one mile, a petty officer was killed instantly by a piece of metal falling on him. The victim was named W. Burgess, whose body was interred in Buncrana Parish Churchyard, a cross-slab marking the grave.

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