ON 13th May Kitchener received a personal invitation from the Czar to visit Russia and advise on military matters. On 4th June Kitchener left the War Office and took the train to Scapa Flow arriving on the morning of the 5th and going aboard the Cairnbig from Dulk. In the afternoon he crossed over to the Hampshire which was to convey him to Russia. At a few minutes before 5 PM she slipped anchor and sailed with as escort of two destroyers towards the western cost of the Orkneys. At 7 PM the escort was detached because of high seas and 40 minutes later the Hampshire struck a mine laid by a German U-Boat. Within a quarter of an hour the ship had sunk and with a Field Marshal Lord Kitchener and a large part of the crew. Although bodies were subsequently washed up, that of Kitchener was never found. He was probably pulled under by the weight of his greatcoat which he wore since he felt the cold.