In July 1908, Lord Charles Beresford ordered two parallel Channel Fleet columns to turn inward despite their narrow separation. Rear Admiral Percy Scott calculated that HMS Good Hope and HMS Argyll would collide and directed Good Hope to disregard the signal. His intervention prevented a possible repetition of the HMS Victoria disaster, but Beresford sought a court martial for disobedience. The Admiralty refused and moved Scott outside Beresford's command. The incident also damaged Beresford's prospects of succeeding Fisher as First Sea Lord. Factional hostility helped end Scott's seagoing career in 1909, although the Admiralty wanted his work on ranging and director firing to continue.
Chapter · 1:27:37-1:30:46
Percy Scott disobeys a signal to prevent a collision
The 1908 Second Signal Incident explains Scott's factional difficulties and shows why professional judgment sometimes required refusing a dangerous superior order.