off the attack when the four British destroyers of the Lark group approached. The torpedo boats, which were small coastal boats of the which were outclassed by the British ships, attempted to flee to neutral waters, but were soon caught and sunk by gunfire. In June 1915, most of the Harwich Force, including Lark was employed in anti-submarine operations at the west end of the English Channel, covering the arrival of troops from Canada and the despatch of troops to the Dardanelles campaign. In the summer of 1915, the 3rd Flotilla was renamed the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla. On 20 February 1916, part of the Ninth Flotilla, including Lark set out from Harwich to cover minesweeping operations. Lark collided with sister ship shortly after leaving Harwich, and the two destroyers, accompanied by , had to return to Harwich. On 3 May 1916, Lark escorted the minelayer on Operation XX, a combined minelaying operation by Princess Margaret and the destroyer minelayer and air raid by seaplanes from Engadine and against the German airship base at Tondern. The minefields were successfully laid without German interference, although the light cruisers and , supporting the operation, shot down the German airship L 7. On 1 June 1916, the Harwich Force sortied to reinforce the Grand Fleet following the Battle of Jutland. Lark was one of eight destroyers detached to screen the damaged battleship , which had been torpedoed during the battle, helping to escort the battleship to the Humber for temporary repair. On 5 September 1916, Lark and were deployed to the English Channel to escort Princess Victoria, carrying a load of Gold bullion from Cherbourg to Portsmouth. The destroyers of the Harwich Force were regularly detached to the Channel to strengthen the defences of the Dover Patrol against potential attack by German surface forces, and in late October 1916, Lark was part of a division of four destroyers led by that was taking its turn reinforcing the Dover Patrol. On the night of 26/27 October 1916, Lawfords division was patrolling off The Downs, while four more L-class destroyers were on passage to Dunkirk, and six more destroyers waiting at Dover. On that night the Germans launched an attack against the Dover Barrage and shipping in the Straits. Later that night, one group of German torpedo boats attacked British drifters, and when the old destroyer went to investigate, sank Flirt. As a response, Bacon ordered