Royal Navy, Bristol Class Light Cruisers. HMS Bristol, HMS Liverpool, HMS Glasgow, HMS Gloucester and HMS Newcastle You could say these were the first real Cruisers built for the Royal navy since 1900. All previous Cruisers of heavy Cruisers were in fact light battleships, (or called 2nd class battleships) All the class served in overseas stations during world war one.

HMS Bristol

HMS Bristol.

Built by John Brown on the Clyde and launched 23rd  February 1910 completed in December 1910.  On completion she joined the 2nd battle Squadron of the home Fleet. On the 22nd December 1912 she ran aground in Plymouth Sound. In January 1913 she joined the 2nd Fleet and again moving  to the 2nd Light Cruiser squadron in July 1913. In 1914 she joined the 5th Cruiser Squadron, At the outbreak of World war One she joined the 4th cruiser squadron and was sent to the west Indies.  Engaged briefly the Karlsruhe on 6th August 1914. Joined the squadron based in the Falklands under Admiral Stoddart at Port Stanley.  Left Port Stanley to join the battle of the Falkland Islands but along with AMC Macedonia captured German Colliers. In December 1914 she took part in the hunt for the Dresden. After which she went to the Mediterranean and Adriatic in 1916 - 1917. In 1918 she again re joined the squadron in the South American station. Finally returning to Portsmouth the be paid off in June 1919, put on sales list in 1920 and sold to the breakers in May 1921,.

HMS Bristol.

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Crew of HMS Bristol

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HMS Bristol. 

HMS Bristol

HMS Bristol.

HMS Bristol.

HMS Bristol.

HMS Gloucester

HMS Gloucester - Name History

The eighth ?GLOUCESTER? is a turbine cruiser, launched at Beardmore?s Yard in 1910.  She is of 4800 tons, 22,000 horse- power, and 25 knot speed.  Her length, beam, and draught are 430ft., 47ft., and 15ft. In August 1914, after the declaration with war with Germany, the ?Gloucester,? commanded by Captain W.A.H. Kelly, had an indecisive and distant engagement with the German cruiser ?Breslau? between Sicily and the Dardanelles.  The ?Gloucester? subsequently took part in the various operations in the Mediterranean against the German and Austrian fleets.

Built by Beardmore and launched 28th October 1909 and completed October 1910. she joined the 1st battle squadron of the Home Fleet on completion/ and then re commissioned into the 2nd Light Cruiser squadron in the Mediterranean in January 1913. On the outbreak of the world war one she chased the German Ships Goeben and Breslau, and also took part in the search for the Emden in November 1914 but returned to the Mediterranean and the send of November 1914. Was to re join the 2nd Light Cruiser squadron of the Home fleet but re directed to the coast of Africa in the search for the German AMC Kronprinz Wilhelm.  Joined the 32nd Light Cruiser squadron in February 1915 and captured the German Supply ship Macedonia a few days later. During the Irish Easter Rising she shelled Galway in April 1916. she then joined the 2nd light Cruiser squadron just before Jutland. From December 1916 until the end of the first world war she spent the time in the Adriatic with the 8th Light Cruiser Squadron except for a short period where she joined the east Indies Station in April 1917. Came back to Britain to be paid of at Devonport in April 1919 and in March 1920 put on the disposal list and sold to the breakers in May  1921.

HMS Gloucester,  anchored in Malta's grand harbour during Christmas 1914.

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HMS Gloucester c.1912.

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Officers of HMS Gloucester.

Contributed by David Halket Squires, whose grandfather, George Halket Squires (on the left here) served on HMS Gloucester c. 1919 - 1920.

Officers of HMS Gloucester.

Contributed by David Halket Squires, whose grandfather, George Halket Squires (second from left here) served on HMS Gloucester c. 1919 - 1920.

The Wardroom of HMS Gloucester.  Contributed by David Halket Squires.

HMS Newcastle

HMS Newcastle.

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Built at Elswick and launched 25th November 1909 and completed september 1910. she joined the China Station after completion to replace HMS Bedford. Took part in the Operation during the Shanghai rebellion on the 23rd June  1913 At Esquimalt in August 1914. she joined the search for the German Armed Merchant Cruiser Prinz Eutel Friedrich. Went ot the pacific Squadron in January 1915 until November 1916. captured the German ship Mazatlan in January 1916. At Mudros in 191, she went to The East Indies in March 1917. became the flagship of the Spout eats Coast of South America station in 1918 to 1919 she was finally paid of at the Nore in February 1920. put o the sales list in December 1920 and sold to the breaker sin May 1921.