Our ref: - AO/MMD 26 September 1986

Dear Mr. Brown, A letter of query has reached us here at this museum, from a lady in Sunderland, Mrs. Moran. You are apparently seeking details of some vessel, now a wreck, lying off Cyprus? She mentioned only HMS. “Mantis” & “Moth” by name - both built c. 1915/16 by the Sunderland S.B. Company for the Royal Navy. I enclose a photocopy of the page on the River Gunboats ‘Insect’ Class, for your interest, showing that both vessels were out in China at the outbreak of W.W.2. What I suggest, is that you write to us here, direct at the Maritime History section of the Science & Engineering Museum, in Newcastle. We can then use all the details you provide on your search, to help you if possible. I can say offhand, that no plans etc. exist for Sunderland S.B. Co. - built vessels - but we may have the odd photo of either HMS ‘Scarab’ or ‘Tarantula’ of the same ‘Insect’ Class, which were built by Wood, Skinner Ltd. at Bill Quay on the Tyne. However, it may be that the (wreck) vessel you enquire about, is something entirely different? Looking forward to hearing from you, Yours sincerely, R. French. (Museum Assistant) p.p. A. Osler. (SMO Maritime History)

Our ref: - AO/MMD 18 Nov 1986

Dear Messr. Palmer & Brown, Enclosed please find your (4) 10" x 8" Black and White prints as ordered by WO2. Palmer, on his Museum visit of 30th October. Now, the ‘good news’ - the prints will cost £4.75p each, total therefore £19. Please make your cheque out to Tyne and Wear Museums Service. I would point out that this is purely cost price - normally, to commercial customers it would be £8-19p each. I trust that your colleagues will be pleased with the photographs and that the previous information has been of assistance. All best wishes, Yours sincerely, R. French Museum Assistant p.p. A.G. Osler (SMO Maritime History)

Plans of HMS Cricket's sister ship, HMS Moth.

PK/LB/CRIC/PH 15 December 1986

Dear Warrant Officer Brown I enclose photostats of photographs of GNAT and GLOWWORM which you may find useful. The photograph of GNAT was taken shortly before the ship was handed over to the Royal Navy in 1916. The photograph of GLOWWORM was taken in May 1928 and shows the ship being towed out of Malta having been sold to Lorenzo Gatt for breaking up. This is the last known photograph of GLOWWORM and should give you a good idea of whether the wreck you have found off Cyprus is GLOWWORM or one of the others. Neither of these photographs is from the IWM’s collection. The photograph of GNAT is from the University of Glasgow and that of GLOWWORM from the Portsmouth photographers, Wright and Logan, whose address is 20 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, PO1 3HL. I am still strongly inclined to think that the wreck is CRICKET and I have begun to search for detailed stern views of the ship to send you. In the meantime, when you next dive on the wreck might I suggest you pay particular attention to the rudders and rudder pintles. You should find, stamped on each rudder and pintle, a number which may well help to identify the ship. Should I come up with any more information I will let you know. With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year - you must be having better weather in Cyprus than we are! Yours sincerely, Paul Kemp Department of Photographs

HMS Glowworm in May 1928 being towed out of Malta...

HMS GNAT shortly before she was handed over to the Royal Navy in 1916...

CRIC/PH/PK/JH 19 December 1986

Dear Warrant Officer Brown You should by now have received the photographs of CRICKET which I hope you find useful. I have received replies from the University of Glasgow and Strathclyde Archives regarding the yard numbers of the gunboats CRICKET, GNAT and GLOWWORM. The details are as follows: HMS CRICKET: Barclay Curle No. 529 HMS GLOWWORM: Barclay Curle No. 530 HMS GNAT: LÖBNITZ No. 803 You should find one of these numbers stamped on components all over the ship but the best place to start looking will probably be around the rudders and rudder pintles. I look forward to hearing how you are getting on. Yours sincerely Paul J Kemp Department of Photographs

CRIC/PH/PK/JH 30 January 1987

Dear Geoff, Many thanks for your recent letter and the excellent photographs. The wreck is definitely that of an INSECT class gunboat and by a process of elimination it must be CRICKET. 529 is the Barclay Curle yard number for CRICKET but 729 means nothing to me at the moment. It would be a good reference to know which number occurs more often as these gunboats often underwent running repairs using parts cannibalized from other ships, thus causing a proliferation of different yard numbers. If the number 529 is predominant then I think we can safely assume that the wreck is CRICKET. My colleagues at the National Maritime Museum still think that the best place to look for a yard number will be the welders and the pintles. I hope to be able to go to the Public Record Office next week and will try to see if there is any mention of CRICKET’S ultimate fate in Admiralty Records. I look forward to hearing from you. Best Wishes, P J Kemp Department of Photographs

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