Just two days before departure, on the 9th, seven United States Clemson-class destroyers went ashore in poor visibility further down the coast to the north of Los Angeles. Amongst my grandfather's photo collection - he was apparently ship's photographer on HMS Curlew - were a number showing the US ships ashore. How he obtained them, I have no idea, but what follows is the sad story of these seven vessels and their crews.

My grandfather served in British light cruiser HMS Curlew (below) from 1922-25 when it was part of the 8th Cruiser Squadron on the America & West Indies Station. After visiting several Pacific islands, his ship was due to arrive in San Francisco on 7 September 1923 and actually left on 11 September.