H.M.S. Orcadia (1916)

H.M.S. Orcadia (1916)
Pendant Number:	G.53 (Sep 1915) G.80 (Jan 1917) D.30 (Jan 1918)
Builder:	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
Ordered:	Feb 1915
Launched:	26 Jul, 1916
Completed:	29 Sep, 1916
Sold:

H.M.S. Orcadia was one of one hundred and three destroyers of the "M" class built for the Royal Navy during the Great War.

Service

Aft Gun at Drill, 1918
Photo provided courtesy of Alan Bush, grandson of Athelstan Paul Bush

Working Paravanes, 1918
Photo provided courtesy of Alan Bush, grandson of Athelstan Paul Bush

Orcadia was assigned to the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla in October, 1916, as it was still building up to strength. In January, 1917, she went to join the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla to join its Paravane Department.

On 13-14 March 1918, Orcardia attacked enemy submarines with "promptness, skill and good organisation" under the command of A. Paul Bush, whose performance the Admiralty found commendable. Later in the year, Orcadia collided with T.B. 16 and Bush was found culpable in some manner, drawing the familiar admonishment that he was expected to exercise greater caution in future.

Orcadia was reduced to C. & M. Party at Portsmouth on 1 February, 1920.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Lieutenant-Commander Guy P. Bowles, 26 August, 1916 – 17 July, 1917
• Lieutenant in Command Godfrey R. Chambers, July, 1917 – 5 March, 1918
• Lieutenant in Command A. Paul Bush, 5 March, 1918 – 27 September, 1920

See Also

• Wikipedia