Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - The Bristol Channel District Guide - selected articles - [1934 Edition] . . . .

From here they were shifted to the sullen North Sea, some 200 miles out, sweeping the passages for our light cruisers, many times having to drive through heavy gales for shelter. They were relieved by the Navy sloops, and while the operation was in progress they were attacked by night, the " Arabis " being sunk by German destroyers.

During their work in the North Sea area the " Devonia Unit " gained the distinction of accounting for the greatest number of mines in one day's sweep. This was while working on the Channel sweeps, keeping the passages clear for the merchantmen and transports, and the Bristol steamers were able, on more than one occasion,  to render valuable aid to mined and damaged vessels.

After another period of sweeping the Belgium Coast the unit came in for a warm time.

" Britannia " and " Glen Usk. "

When the " Britannia " and " Glen Usk " were in commission their first duty was the sweeping the North West Coast of Ireland, but on May 7th, 1915, they were called on to patrol the Firth of Clyde, searching for submarines.

Then for a period, these two Bristol paddlers were engaged on long-distance sweeping from Inistrahull to Barra Head (Outer Hebrides) before, on August 12th, 1915, they left Troon for the Moray Firth. Thence they proceeded to Granton, and were continually sweeping with the Grand Fleet until March 32st, 1919, when the steamers proceeded to Glasgow for reconditioning.

While in the Moray Firth the " Britannia, " the flagship of the Campbell Fleet in peace-times, had a narrow escape, a mine exploding in the Kite, pieces of the wrecked machinery flying all over the steamer's deck.

On many occasions splinters from exploded mines fell on the steamers' decks. After such valiant service it was only fitting that the White Funnel Fleet should be represented at the surrender of the great German Fleet, and, when this historic spectacle took place, the " Glen Usk " witnessed the humiliation of the ex-Kaiser's Navy.