In dear memory of Able Seaman John William 'Jack' Sydenham, Royal Navy, born 28 February 1894 and killed on 6 August 1914, aged 20, along with many of his ship mates whilst serving on HMS Amphion, an Active-class scout cruiser and the first Royal Navy ship to be lost in the first World War.  Jack was the son of Thames lighterman Henry Sydenham and his wife Emma, who lived at 3 King Street, off the Old Kent Road, London SE1. Jack was also my great uncle. In the afternoon of 5th August 1914 HMS Amphion and destroyers of the 3rd flotilla sighted the German minelayer SMS Königin Luise after a trawler had informed them of a suspicious vessel. The Königin Luise was a former Hamburg-Holland holiday ferry that had been converted into an auxiliary minelayer, and sailed disguised as a steamer of the Great Eastern Railway.  The destroyers HMS Lance and HMS Landrail, together with Amphion, gave chase and fired upon the Königin Luise, sinking her in about an hour. Amphion picked up 20 survivors and continued on her prearranged search duties until 3.30 a.m. the following day, 6th August 1914, at which time she turned for Harwich. At 6.30 a.m. Amphion struck a mine previously laid by the Königin Luise. A huge sheet of flame engulfed the forecastle, killing all but one member of the forward gun crews, killing many on the forward mess decks and badly burning all personnel on the bridge. The escorting destroyers closed on Amphion and their boats took off her surviving crew with the few rescued German survivors. She drifted back into the minefield and, three minutes after the last boatload of survivors was taken off, struck another mine. The fore magazine exploded with great force, debris striking the rescue boats and destroyers. One of Amphion's shells struck and burst on the deck of the destroyer HMS Lark, killing two of Amphion's rescued crew along with a German prisoner from the Königin Luise. Amphion then rapidly sank and within 15 minutes was gone, her wreck  located at 52°11'N 2°36'E. Jack is commemorated on the Plymouth Navy Memorial and remembered with great pride by his family.  We will remember him, and all those who have given their lives in the service of our Nation. June 2017

Alastair Stewart