This extract from Robert Rendall's diary describes events as seen by him on 17th October when Scapa Flow received its first air attacks - its "Baptism of Fire".

On this day two "firsts" of the war occurred in Scapa Flow. The first enemy aircraft to be shot down on British soil by antiaircraft guns (by 226 AA Heavy Artillery Battery on Hoy) and the first German bomb to fall on British soil (at Ore, near Lyness).

Reports of the sinking of HMS Vanguard were exaggerated. She was hit twice by German bombers and one man was killed and 25 injured. Considerable damage occurred but she remained afloat although was later beached.