page_title: Sydney Fremantle
section_title: Scapa Flow and the scuttling of the fleet
hierarchical_section_title: Sydney Fremantle / Postwar / Scapa Flow and the scuttling of the fleet
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Selbstversenkung der SMS Bayern in Scapa Flow, über das Heck sinkend. English: Scuttling of the German Fleet at Scapa Flow: SMS BAYERN down by the stern and sinking at Scapa Flow.
context_page_description: Admiral Sir Sydney Robert Fremantle, GCB MVO was an officer of the Royal Navy, who served during the Victorian era and had risen to the rank of rear-admiral by the outbreak of the First World War. He played a role in developing fleet communications and signalling methods prior to the war, but was hampered in effectively implementing them due to the disruption caused by the conflict. He had an active seagoing career during the war, commanding several of the cruiser squadrons, and later taking command of the British fleet in the Aegean. Promoted to vice-admiral after the end of the war and given command of the First Battle Squadron, Fremantle oversaw the interned German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow, and was away on exercises when the sailors began to scuttle their ships in June 1919. He attempted to salvage what he could, later accusing the German commander, Vice-Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, of a shameful breach of honour. Fremantle rose to full admiral and commanded the naval base at Portsmouth, retiring in 1928. He wrote his memoirs, publishing them after the Second World War, and donated many of his papers to institutions before his death in 1958.
context_section_description: Fremantle continued in the navy, becoming commander of the 1st Battle Squadron in May 1919. A large portion of the German fleet had by this point been interned at the Royal Navy's northern base at Scapa Flow, and Fremantle's task as commander of the First Battle Squadron was to keep a watchful eye on them. The deadline for the signing of the Treaty of Versailles was by then approaching, and concerns had begun to circulate about the possibility of the disgruntled German sailors scuttling their ships, rather than agreeing to hand them over as stipulated in the terms of the treaty. Fremantle drew up orders for the ships to be seized on the expiration of the deadline for the signing of the treaty, and had them approved by his superior, Admiral Sir Charles Madden. The deadline, meanwhile, was extended from 21 June to 7pm on 23 June. Fremantle decided to take his squadron to sea to carry out exercises on 21 June, and return in the afternoon of 23 June to commence procedures for seizing the fleet. Unbeknownst to him, the German commander, Vice-Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, intended to order the scuttling of the fleet on 21 June, unaware that the deadline had been extended. As Fremantle steamed out of Scapa Flow on the morning of 21 June, Reuter was completing his preparations. The scuttling of the fleet began just before midday. When the British realised what was happening, a message was immediately despatched to Fremantle, who returned to Scapa Flow at full speed.
  Fremantle had destroyers tow sinking ships ashore and beach them, while boarding parties attempted to reverse the scuttling or order the Germans aboard to do so. Those Germans who abandoned ship were picked up. Reuter was brought aboard Fremantle's flagship, HMS Revenge, where he and Fremantle engaged in a brief argument with the aid of an interpreter. The following day, Fremantle assembled Reuter and his officers on the deck of Revenge, and through an interpreter informed them of their breaches 'of faith and honour' and accused them of recommencing hostilities by sinking their ships. The prisoners were then led into captivity.
caption: The German battleship Bayern sinking in Scapa Flow after being scuttled by her crew
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