On 19 January 1940 the 1st DF was operating out of Harwich with six other ships of the Flotilla were returning from an operation off the Dutch coast when in calm weather, she was mined at 1250 hrs in the Thames estuary, 23 nautical miles east of the Kentish Knock lightvessel in position 51º39'N, 02º17'E, on a field laid by the German destroyers of FK Berger: Erich Steinbrinck, Friedrich Ihn and Friedrich Eckoldt.
HMS Grenville (Capt. George Elvey Creazy, RN) quickly capsized. Her bow was the last part of the ship to disappear. Two ships from the Flotilla, dispite the danger lowered boats to pluck 118 men from the water. Seventy seven officers and crew lost their life in the sinking.