I'm extremely grateful to John Spence for sharing with us the following extract from
his grandfather, Lt. Cdr.
Goodheart's diary, providing details of the visit by the Tsar, Prince
Nicholas of Russia, to award the St George’s Crosses to the entire crew of the
Submarine, E8:
Wed 10th November 1915:
A Red Letter Day. Was called at
7.0 and had bath in new bathroom outside our cabins forward. Breakfast 7.30
shortly after 8.0 moved boat up alongside Europa[1] with E 19 boats all there
preparatory to Czar’s visit in afternoon. Freezing hard after a little more
snow a very fine day but very cold. E 19 is still a sight her gun etc. all
covered up with ice, we didn’t get so much coming back but have a certain
amount of it, and the side all ice covered. How our men work their lines in such
weather I don’t know. Yesterday we trimmed down by bow and removed acid by
pump from battery tank afterwards pouring in soda so hope it will stay the rot!
Left Europa after securing boat as
we were outside boat. Saw Doctor with Essen re large boil on my leg - he
prescribed a cold compress for 10 PM. It is due to lack of washing when at sea!!
Sent in report re collision with “Gepart” to Pagouski. Read papers. Lawrence
gave us detail for afternoon performance with Emperor. We all mustered in Europa
at 12.45. No overcoats as they were hardly respectable! Men in No 3’s too and
bitterly cold. I had to choose 5 men to have St Georges Cross’s given to them
by Emperor. Chose Asher. Perry Sto P.O. Thomas Cox Maunders P.O. Vale AB. as 5
best men the only doubt being the latter but his tube fired the winning shot so
decided in preference to Knibbs (Beam Tube).
We fell in on Europa’s Upper
Deck. Cromie[2] had similar 5 men for sinking of “Undine” We fell out after our
rehearsal and saw a most interesting chart of where all the German wrecks are!
Also possibles! P.A.[3] very conspicuous off Libau! C in C came on board and we all
bustled out to receive him retiring to warmth of W.T. cabinet after it. During
first interval went into E 9 for a cognac. It was a most interesting scene. The
approach to Europa’s gangway being kept by troops as above lines show and the
snow effect was very good. We retired to Ward Room after C- in C’s arrival,
and made a hurried exit when we heard the Czar was arriving. Fell in in our
places. The Czar inspected troops ashore first, who meanwhile made continuous
cheering noise and then came on board followed by a very numerous staff. The C.
started forward and walked aft shaking hands with us all, and saying something
to everybody. He talks excellent English and is a much finer looking (though
very like) man than our King. He looks you straight in the eyes and one must
look straight into his. He said how elated they all were when they heard of the
P.A’s defeat and I said we in the boat were enormously elated too! He then
gave Cromie and I St Georges Cross saying he had much pleasure in presenting us
with them. All I could think of was to say “Thank you”. The Young Czarewitch
was with him a very lively looking young boy in grey overcoat and St Georges
medal Cross All the staff congratulated us and Horton[4] pinned the medals on for
us as they were all ready made up. The Czarewitch’s servant took our photos!
The number of photographers knocking about was enormous! Cinema people as well!
and they were funny when they tripped up over ring bolts etc.. Cromie and I had
to get over the other side of deck to be present when medals were given to our
men. The Emperor thanked the men personally for all they were doing for “this
country and your own”. He passed the medal people first and then returned to
them, I gave the names of each man in turn and he gave the crosses, thanking
each man personally for what he had done. The men were awfully bucked up over it
all. “
NOTES:
[1] Europa was a Submarine Depot
ship
[2] Lt. Cdr. Francis Cromie,
Commander of HM Submarine E19 which sunk the German cruiser, Undine
[3] the German cruiser Prinz
Adalbert, sunk by HM Submarine E8
[4] Lt. Cdr. Max Kennedy Horton,
Commander of HM Submarine E9
Return to Amos Knibbs' Notable Knibbs page.
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