HMS Formidable was a 15,000 ton battleship which was torpedoed and sunk just after midnight on 1st January 1915 in Lyme Bay. It is now regarded as the first major naval disaster of WWI. She had been built in 1901, had four 12” guns and was part of the Atlantic Fleet. Out of the ship’s complement of 750 only 199 were saved. A small number of survivors reached Lyme Regis where sadly some of them died and were buried in Lyme Regis cemetery. One man, Able Seaman Cowan was one man thought to be deceased and his body was laid out in the Pilot Boat Inn. However, the landlord’s dog, Lassie, a rough Collie, licked the frail sailor and he regained consciousness. This story is believed to be the origins of the famous Lassie of the Hollywood films.If you double click either one of these three photos they will enlarge enough to tell you the names of the men who died
