The destroyers were under a heavy fire from the light-cruisers on reaching the rear of the line, but the _Onslaught_ was the only vessel which received any material injuries. In the _Onslaught_ Sub-Lieutenant Harry W. A. Kemmis, assisted by Midshipman Reginald G. Arnot, R.N.R., the only executive officers not disabled, brought the ship successfully out of action and reached her home port.
During the attack carried out by the Eleventh Flotilla, _Castor_ leading the flotilla, engaged and sank an enemy torpedo-boat-destroyer at point-blank range.
"The Thirteenth Flotilla, under the command of Captain James U. Farie, in _Champion_, took station astern of the battle fleet for the night. At 0.30 a.m. on Thursday, 1st June, a large vessel crossed the rear of the flotilla at high speed. She passed close to _Petard_ and _Turbulent_, switched on searchlights and opened a heavy fire, which disabled _Turbulent_. At 3.30 a.m. _Champion_ was engaged for a few minutes with four enemy destroyers. _Moresby_ reports four ships of _Deutschland_ class sighted at 2.35 a.m., at whom she fired one torpedo. Two minutes later an explosion was felt by _Moresby_ and _Obdurate_.
[Sidenote: Battleship of the _Kaiser_ class alone.]
"_Fearless_ and the 1st Flotilla were very usefully employed as a submarine screen during the earlier part of the 31st May. At 6.10 p.m., when joining the Battle Fleet, _Fearless_ was unable to follow the battle cruisers without fouling the battleships, and therefore took station at the rear of the line. She sighted during the night a battleship of the _Kaiser_ class steaming fast and entirely alone. She was not able to engage her, but believes she was attacked by destroyers further astern. A heavy explosion was observed astern not long after."
There were many gallant deeds performed by the destroyer flotillas; they surpassed the very highest expectations that I had formed of them.
Apart from the proceedings of the flotillas, the Second Light-cruiser Squadron in the rear of the battle fleet was in close action for about 15 minutes at 10.20 p.m. with a squadron comprising one enemy cruiser and four light-cruisers, during which period _Southampton_ and _Dublin_ suffered rather heavy casualties, although their steaming and fighting qualities were not impaired. The return fire of the squadron appeared to be very effective.