HMS Goldfinch

HMS Goldfinch was an Acorn class steel destroyer built for the Royal Navy and laid down at the Govan yard of Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd (Yard No 473) on 23rd February 1910 and launched on 12th July that year.  She measured 246.5′ x 25.3′ x 8.7′ and displaced 747 tons.  She was powered by a Parson’s steam turbine set driving three propeller shafts using steam provided by 4 Yarrow diesel fired boilers.  This powerful combination delivered 13,500 shaft horse power and a top speed of 27 knots.  She was armed with 2 x BL 4” Mk VIII guns on single mounts, 2 x QF 3” 12 pounder guns and 2 x rotating 21” torpedo tubes midships. On commissioning Goldfinch joined the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla at Devonport. On 10th June 1913 Goldfinch was involved in an unusual triple collision with HMS Nymphe and HMS Sheldrake which resulted in a caution for her commander, Lieutenant Commander Reginald Guy Stone.  With the outbreak of World War One the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla joined the newly established Grand Fleet based in Scapa Flow, Orkney.  

Goldfinch was still commanded by Lieutenant Commander Stone and had a regular compliment of 70 officers and men.  The exact circumstances that led to the stranding of HMS Goldfinch 19th February 1915 are not available due to wartime reporting restrictions and censorship.  For some reason she ran aground at Start Point, Sanday in dense fog and although it is certain that attempts would have been made to refloat her she became a total wreck.  Thankfully there were no casualties in the incident.  Commander Stone was tried by court martial on 1st April 1915 and was reprimanded for her loss.  His otherwise exemplary record seems to have resulted in this relatively lenient conclusion.  In fact he went on to be awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1918.

The wreck was sold, after a tender process, in April 1919 and later broken up for scrap where she laid and mainly removed. 

Some scattered items of wreckage are still visible at low tide among the rocks at Start Point in approximate position 59° 16.972’N, 02° 23.102’W.