HMS Amphion (1883)


HMS Amphion was a second-class cruiser of the which served with the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard, being laid down in 1881, launched in 1883 and completed in financial year 1885–86, and then lay in ordinary at Devonport. She was commissioned for the 1887 and 1888 annual manoeuvres. She was recommissioned in December 1888. served in the Pacific until 1890, in the Mediterranean from 1890 to 1895, in ordinary in Devonport from 1895 to 1897 and in the Pacific once more from 1897 to 1904, having a refit in 1900.

Construction

Amphion was built at Pembroke Dockyard, and completed in financial year 1885–86.
The December 1885 Navy List, listed Amphion at Devonport, with her commissioned and warrant officers borne in the Nanking as follows:
PostNameDate of appointment
Staff CommanderBertram E.W. Gwyne5 September 1883
Chief EngineerThomas W.H. Ramsay29 April 1885
EngineerJames J. Frost14 August 1885
GunnerGeorge Morrison5 September 1883
BoatswainJosiah Boulton5 September 1883
CarpenterThomas Slaney20 November 1884

Sea-going career

Annual manoeuvres 1887

Amphion was commissioned for the annual manoeuvres on 5 July 1887, and paid off on 31 August 1887.

Annual manoeuvres 1888

Amphion was commissioned for the annual manoeuvres on 4 July 1888, and paid off on 31 August 1888. In the manoeuvres, hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July 1888, and ended at noon on 20 August.
In the manoeuvres, Vice Admiral John K.E. Baird's force represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achill' fleet, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon, and based in Berehaven on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports.
Amphion was part of Rear Admiral George Tryon's 'Achill' fleet.

"The Amphion left Lough Swilly with the , and broke the blockade with her on the night of 4th-5th August. During her cruize in the Channel and up the East Coast of Great Britain she claims the destruction of much shipping; and the capture of the coastguard stations at Scarborough and Wick, also, after leaving Lough Swilly the second time, to have visited Bude with a hostile purpose.
As Scarborough had already been attacked by five days earlier, her visit there could not have been of much effect, neither does it seem that nay useful purpose was served on the occasion of her visit to Wick, as she was taken there in order that her captain might telegraph to the Achill Admiral through the enemy's wires, an impossible condition in wartime. In no case, according to her log, does it appear that the Rules as to Capture of shipping were adhered to."

1888-1892

Amphion was commissioned at Devonport by Captain Edward G. Hulton on 11 December 1888. The January 1889 Navy List, listed Amphion at Devonport, fitting out for service on the Pacific Station, and listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:
PostNameDate of appointment
CaptainEdward G. Hulton11 December 1888
Lieutenant Francis W. Barrett4 November 1887
Lieutenant George S.J. Warrender11 December 1888
LieutenantWilliam H.du.C. Chads11 December 1888
LieutenantIvan G. Humphreys11 December 1888
LieutenantRichard H. Story11 December 1888
LieutenantFrank Hammond11 December 1888
Staff PaymasterWilliam S. Watson11 December 1888
Staff EngineerThomas W.H. Ramsay29 April 1885
SurgeonJames A. Vassey
11 December 1888
SurgeonAlfred T. Rimell11 December 1888
EngineerWilliam Whittingham13 November 1888
Assistant EngineerHenry J. Turner16 March 1888
Assistant EngineerThomas C. Morris 31 October 1888
Assistant EngineerWilliam A.J. Davies11 December 1888
GunnerJohn McCarthy14 September 1886
Gunner Theodore Bye11 December 1888
BoatswainEdward Davis4 August 1886
BoatswainWilliam Burns11 December 1888
BoatswainMichael Brady 11 December 1888
CarpenterThomas Slaney20 November 1884
ClerkHenry Horniman11 December 1888

1892-1895

Amphion was re-commissioned at Malta, by Captain John R.E. Pattisson, on 26 January 1892. The January 1892 Navy List listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:
PostNameDate of appointment
CaptainJohn R.E. Pattisson18 December 1891
LieutenantHerbert W. Meredith18 December 1891
Lieutenant Thomas F.C. Dundas18 December 1891
Lieutenant Cuthbert E. Hunter18 December 1891
LieutenantCharles E. Fenwick18 December 1891
LieutenantAllan F. Everett18 December 1891
LieutenantFrederick J. Davis 29 May 1891
LieutenantDavid C. Gregor 18 December 1891
Staff SurgeonGilbert Kirker M.D.18 December 1891
PaymasterInnes W. Taylor18 December 1891
Staff EngineerJames C. Larg5 January 1891
SurgeonWilliam J. Colborne18 December 1891
EngineerWilliam W. Hardwick18 December 1891
Assistant EngineerOliver R. Paul18 December 1891
Assistant EngineerThomas H. Turner18 December 1891
GunnerWilliam H. Donovan22 December 1891
BoatswainJohn C. Cowdrey21 December 1891
Boatswain Daniel R. Phair22 December 1891
BoatswainJohn Peain23 December 1891
BoatswainWilliam Winds23 December 1891
CarpenterCharles R. Vincent21 December 1891
ClerkRichard B. Brooks24 December 1891

1895-1897

Amphion laid in ordinary at Devonport from 1 March 1895 to 6 January 1897.

1897-1900

Amphion was commissioned at Devonport by Captain Frank Finnis, on 7 January 1897 She served on the Pacific Station. She paid off at Devonport on 13 February 1900, Captain Finnis was appointed to HMS Illustrious.
The January 1898 Navy List listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:
PostNameDate of appointment
CaptainFrank Finnis7 January 1897
LieutenantHon Stanhope Hawke7 January 1897
Lieutenant Francis M. Leake7 January 1897
Lieutenant Alexander K. Jones18 December 1896
LieutenantLangton W. Browell7 January 1897
LieutenantWilliam Hamilton7 January 1897
LieutenantBarnard R.S. Winter7 January 1897
LieutenantQuentin C.A. Craufurd
7 January 1897
Lieutenant MarineHenry M. Howard29 April 1897
ChaplainRev, Thomas Roberts M.A.7 January 1897
PaymasterHenry W. Braddon7 January 1897
Fleet EngineerWilliam H.C. Gale3 July 1897
SurgeonFrederick W. Stericker B.A. M.B.7 January 1897
Assistant PaymasterCharles E. Lynes7 January 1897
EngineerHarry G. Andrews7 January 1897
Assistant EngineerWilliam J. Ford 7 January 1897
Gunner John Edwards7 January 1897
BoatswainWilliam Sweeney7 January 1897
CarpenterAlbert A.B. Tozer7 January 1897
ClerkArthur C. Roe15 April 1897

1900 refit

Amphion was refitted at Devonport immediately after she paid off. On 25 February 1900 it was reported that: "The refit of the Amphion at Devonport is to be completed at the earliest possible date. Although the cruiser only paid off last week she has been dismantled and the work is well advanced. She only recently returned from the Pacific station, and it is understood she is to be sent back to that station to relieve the Phaëton or the Leander, which will complete their three years/ commission in June. The Amphions engines and boilers are in capital condition, although she has served over nine years on foreign stations, and it is believed that her refit can be carried out for £3,000 less than the sum provided for it."

1900-1904

Amphion was commissioned at Devonport by Captain John Casement, on 20 September 1900. She served on the Pacific Station. This commission was the subject of a book in the 'Log' series, entitled: HMS Amphion, Pacific Station, 1901–1904. She arrived at Colón, Panama in late December 1900. In January 1902, it was reported that Amphion had struck on a reef while on her way from Panama to Callao, was seriously damaged, and had to proceed to Valparaíso for repairs. In early August that year she was back at the station headquarters at Esquimalt.
The March 1901 Navy List listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:
PostNameDate of appointment
CaptainJohn Casement20 September 1900
LieutenantMontague L. Hulton21 January 1901
Lieutenant Walter H.C. Caltrop20 September 1900
LieutenantBasil E.M. Waters20 September 1900
Lieutenant James D.D. Stewart20 September 1900
Lieutenant R.N.R.Arthur Greenstock 20 September 1900
Lieutenant R.M.Charles L Hall20 September 1900
ChaplainRev. John B. Bourne M.A.20 September 1900
Staff SurgeonJohn W. Slaughter B.A. M.B.20 September 1900
PaymasterJames Murray20 September 1900
Chief EngineerJohn B. Butcher20 September 1900
Sub-LieutenantAubrey E.D. Moore20 September 1900
Assistant PaymasterJoseph T. Gedge20 September 1900
Assistant EngineerWalter W. Newton 20 September 1900
Assistant EngineerEdwin Cole20 September 1900
Gunner John Chisholm20 September 1900
BoatswainJames J. Webber20 September 1900
BoatswainRobert W. Brown 20 September 1900
CarpenterHenry J. Soper20 September 1900

Disposal

Amphion was sold in 1906.

Footnotes

Amphion Logbooks in the UK National Archives

Catalogue NumberStartEnd
ADM 53/124515 July 188731 August 1887
ADM 53/124524 July 188831 August 1888
ADM 53/1245311 December 188830 June 1890
ADM 53/124541 July 189025 January 1892
ADM 53/1245526 January 18924 June 1893
ADM 53/124565 June 18939 July 1894
ADM 53/1245710 July 189428 February 1895
ADM 53/124587 January 18976 January 1898
ADM 53/124597 January 18986 January 1899
ADM 53/124607 January 18996 January 1900
ADM 53/124617 January 190013 February 1900
ADM 53/1246220 September 190020 September 1901
ADM 53/1246321 September 190120 September 1902
ADM 53/1702121 September 190231 July 1903
ADM 53/170221 August 190325 May 1904