John's Story.
Birkenhead News 03 February 1915
HOYLAKE SAILOR DROWNED.
In “Viknor” Disaster
WENT THROUGH ANTWERP SIEGE.
Amongst those who returned safely from the siege of Antwerp only to be lost on the “Viknor”, was Mr. Jack Godfrey, Alderley Road, Hoylake. He was a first-class A.B. in the Naval Brigade (Mersey Division), which gave such a credible account of itself in the trenches at Antwerp. Mr. Godfrey was well known as the assistant of Mr. Harry Rogers, for so long attached to the Hoylake Urban District Council clerical staff. He was heartily congratulated by his numerous friends on his safe return to Hoylake after the siege, and not unlike the remainder of the gallant local division, he was anxious to get back to the firing line to do more valiant service for his King and country.
After having joined the crews of several other boats, Mr. Godfrey, who was only 22 years of age, was ultimately transferred to the “Viknor,” which went down recently with 20 officers and 100 men. Up to the week-end there was some little hope that Mr. Godfrey might have been saved, but his parents have since received an official notification of his unfortunate loss.
HMS Viknor
Built in 1888 and originally named RMS Atrato she operated as Royal Mail Ship and ocean liner. In 1912 the ship was sold to a cruise company and renamed The Viking. With the outbreak of war in 1914 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty, armed as merchant cruiser, and renamed HMS Viknor.
During the first weeks of 1915 the HMS Viknor was patrolling off the north coast of Scotland when she was ordered to intercept a neutral Norwegian vessel, who the military suspected was carrying a German spy. HMS Viknor began to return to port in Liverpool; however, on 13th January in heavy seas off Tory Island, County Donegal, she sank without sending a distress signal. All the crew aboard were lost. Some wreckage and many bodies were washed ashore on the north coast of Ireland and Scotland.
It has never been fully established the cause of the sinking, however the wreck was discovered in 2006 by an Irish survey vessel and because of the location it is thought that the Viknor may have struck a German mine, as a minefield was known to be in the vicinity.
John Godfrey's photograph, research and newspaper article by Chris Booth