The German raid on Scarborough, Dec. 16th, 1914

ro

-'-sioo -'coro oo o> ^

The German Raid on Scarborough
December l6th, 191U

r>£

ouSb LIBlwlii

THE GERMAN RAID

ON

Scarborough

DEC :16^P 1914.

>> ^

'> --L

Scarborough.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th. 1914.

Cf — fm o

■^TjsJHE town and coast in the early morning enveloped in a thick bank of fog. The shore was quiet —
sturdy folk were still bathing on the cold December day, and as they bathed they saw coming

^aH °"' °^ '^^ ""'*' '^° battleships, black in the grey light of the dawning morning. All unconscious of
^ these unexpected visitors the inhabitants were quietly pursuing their daily occupations. Many were still in
bed. Some were dressing or at breakfast, while earlier folk were just about to start off to their work.

Suddenly the people on the shore were startled out of their peaceful thoughts by the sight of belching flames
of fire as the German ships flung their broadside on the unoffending town. At first there were many who thought
that one of the most terrible thunderstorms they had ever experienced had burst over the town. Many
more, however, at the first shot recognized the fact that the Germans were bombarding it. The shelling Wcis
continued for fifteen to twenty minutes and then it ceased for a short period, only to commence again as the
battleships headed northward on their way to Whitby.

Various estimates, greatly differing, have been given of the number of shells thrown into the town during
the brief visit of the raiders, some putting it down as 500. The East and North Wards suffered but
little, comparatively. The Central, South, and West severely, while the North-west had some terrifying experiences-
The list of damaged property is a long one : hotels, boarding houses, churches, chapels, private residences,
schools, busmess premises, warehouses, workshops, cottage and mansion — all paid their share of the toll exacted
by the might of the Mailed Fist. The Castle Wall was pierced, the Castle damaged, and the Lighthouse so
badly hit that it necessitates its being pulled down, to be rebuilt after the war is over.

The Admiralty report of the victims of the raid gives the Bgures at 99, 19 of whom were killed and 80
wounded, some of whom very severely.

The battleships, after leaving Scarborough, steamed swiftly to Whitby, and continued their deadly work
there, while simultaneously other German ships attacked the town of Hartlepool and inflicted enormous damage.

The inhabitants of Scarborough soon settled down to the daily round and the common task, and the Mayor
of the town, forty-eight hours after, was able to report that " notwithstanding the suddenness and severity of the attack
the inhabitants conducted themselves in a manner wholly to their credit."

" The shells which shattered the buildings of Scarborough have made no impression on the spirits of the people,"
»ays 'Che "Uimes special correspondent. " Nothing could be more praiseworthy than the manner in which the town
passed through its ordeal and has returned to its normal life The people of Yorkshire are proverbially hard to impress,
and the stranger who came into Scarborough in ignorance would have nothing but the broken buildings to tell him that
this quiet seaside town had been subject to an experience unknown to an EngHsh town for more than a hundred years.
Even the Admiralty announcement that such incidents will not affect the naval policy has evoked practically no criticism.
Scarborough accepts its risks."

THE KING'S €^^^^ MESSAGE

" The people of Scarborough and Whitby have been much in my thoughts during the past week, and I deeply lyropatliise
with the bereaved families in their distress.

" Please let me know? as to the condition o( the wounded. I trust they may have a tpeedy recovery. — GEORGE, R.l."
The Mayor of Scarborough fMr. C. C. Grahamj has sent the following reply: —

" May it please your Majesty :

"Sir Hugh Bell, Lord-Lieutenant of the North Riding of the County of York, has communicalrd to me your Majesty's
gracious message of sympathy with the bereaved families in Scarborough in their distress consequent upon the recent bombardment
of this town by part of the enemy's fleet, and I humbly beg that your Majesty will accept the thanks of the people of Scarborough
for such message, which will be greatly appreciated "

UA4IHI

xxjtixixxn

^nssr*

m
m

HWBB^i'^fi

ftttltTTI

-.Lli

«

»4««4i

• ••••••••••

• >»>•'

!■« A 4 tHH4l*«« ••••»•••••#>•••••••>♦»»•••••••• i************ ^

ttf f<

f tyttfttrttTtT*

^

THE LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

Santa Barbara

THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW.

Serips i>482