The Invergordon Archive
No: 495 Contributor: Andrew Bathie Year: 1908
The Fleet at Rest on the Cromarty Firth
A view of the Firth looking east with the Sutors in the background. From a postcard with a 1910 postmark, it's quite a collection of ships including fleet auxiliaries.
Picture added on 30 September 2004
Landscapes and Views
FLEETS IN THE CROMARTY FIRTH. A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE. An Invergordon correspondent writes:—At the present time there is assembled within the confines of the Cromarty Firth the most powerful fleets of war vessels ever seen in Scottish waters. The vessels comprise the Fleet and First Cruiser Squadron under the command of Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, and the Home Fleet and Fifth Cruiser Squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir F. C. B. Bridgeman. The Home Fleet has been lying at Cromarty for the past three weeks, and carried out firing exercises at sea during that time. The Channel Fleet, which had been lying near Nairn for nearly a week, entered the firth about 6.30 on Saturday morning, and anchored off lnvergordon. There is now a total of over 30 large vessels in the firth. Cromarty Firth is the finest natural harbour in the world, and the two large fleets lying on its placid waters, with a distance of two miles between them, present a magnificent and imposing spectacle. The Channel Fleet is anchored in single line about, a mile in length, and the Home Fleet is lying in two parallel lines. Much attention has of late years been directed to the advantages which this firth possesses as an ideal anchorage for war vessels. Cromarty is situated in proximity tho mouth of the firth and to the famous Sutors, while Invergordon lies five miles farther up. The two fleets are accommodated between the two towns, but the thirty ironclads occupy only a very minor portion of the total anchorage. At one time last year there were 40 vessels of H.M. Navy anchored here, but the present assembly is by far the most powerful which has ever been concentrated in the firth, there being altogether eight admiral's flags flying in the firth. Immediately after the arrival Channel Fleet, Provost M'Donald, along with other members of the Town Council of Invergordon, paid official visit to Admiral Lord Charles Beresford on board his flagship, the King Edward VII. They were received with great courtesy by Lord Charles, and were entertained at luncheon. Lord Charles expressed his delight at his return to Invergordon, and the course of conversation with the Council, referred to the excellent anchorage which the firth affords all classes of vessels of the navy. The Channel Fleet remain here till tomorrow, when they will be dispersed for different parts on the west coast. The flagship, with Lord Charles Beresford, is to go to Ullapool.