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[Gologist]

At 8am on the morning of the 2nd February 1914 in Portsmouth my grandfather joined HMS Seahorse for passage to to HMS Sirius at the Spithead. Sirius was bound for Malta and on the morning of the 10th February was outside the Grand Harbour.

In my grandfather's diary he says: "On morning of 10th Feb we were outside, attacked by submarine but her shot missed, t'was one of the B Class who had lately been sent to Malta for a base". There is no further reference to the incident in the diary.

The B-Class submarines were British and I am wondering why one should attack Sirius. Would it be an instance of friendly fire or would there be any other explanation?

[PhiloNauticus]

It was an exercise - submarines would practice "attacking" a surface ship, firing a torpedo which had no warhead

[Gologist]

Thank you PhiliNauticus. That makes sense and would explain why my grandfather seemed relaxed about the event.

[Gologist]

Hello again. Another entry in my grandfather's diary, this one in March 1914 shortly after he joined HMS Dartmouth at Muscat:

"Also found that my SGM McCArthy was an old friend when we both joined at Pembroke Chatham Depot, the last time I saw him was when we were bringing the “Challenger” forward at Chatham for commissioning, he went away to Australia in her and then changed to Devonport whilst I went to the Destroyers, Salmon in 1904 April, one way and another seemed to have fallen in pleasant circumstances for a better SI for mate could never expect to meet".

My grandfather was a Gunner and I am wondering if "SGM" is the abbreviation for Senior Gunner's Mate but I am puzzled by abbreviation "SI". Any ideas?