[10][11] On 5 August 1914, the Third Destroyer Flotilla, led by the light cruiser Amphion carried out a sweep to prevent German minelayers or torpedo craft entering the English Channel.

Later that morning, in response to a report from a trawler that a merchant vessel had been acting suspiciously and throwing objects overboard, Landrail and sister ship Lance were ordered ahead of the flotilla to investigate, and came across the German minelayer Königin Luise, laying mines off Southwold on the Sussex coast.

[12][13][14] On 28 August 1914, the Harwich Force, supported by light cruisers and battlecruisers of the Grand Fleet, carried out a raid towards Heligoland with the intention of destroying patrolling German torpedo boats.

[17] On 24 October 1914, Landrail set out from Harwich as part of the escort for the seaplane carriers Engadine and Empress on a raid against the German airship base at Cuxhaven.

The force reached the launch-off point off Heligoland on the morning of 25 October, but poor weather meant that only two of the six seaplanes managed to take-off, both of which quickly abandoned the mission.

[18] On 23 January 1915, the German battlecruisers under Admiral Franz von Hipper made a sortie to attack British fishing boats on the Dogger Bank.

[23] On 30 January 1915, Landrail, together with sister ships Laforey, Liberty and Lysander were detached from the Harwich Force to hunt submarines (in particular U-21) in the Irish Channel.

[24] On 13 February the four destroyers, their anti-submarine duties over, were returning to Harwich via the English Channel when poor weather forced them to take shelter in Portsmouth.

They were retained at Portsmouth for escort duties until 15 February, when the ships were ordered to resume their journey to Harwich, less Landrail, which was due a refit in Glasgow.

[25] On 23 March 1915 ships of the Harwich Force escorted the seaplane carrier Empress on an attempted raid against a German radio station at Norddeich.

[36] The destroyers were on the port, engaged, side of the battlecruisers during the "Run to the South", and reported spotting a periscope and that a torpedo track passed underneath her,[37] although these supposed sightings were incorrect.

[38] During the night action, Landrail's division passed near the German battle line and although firing was seen, it was believed at the time that they were British ships, and no attack was made.

Attempts, first by Landrail and then by the leader Lightfoot to tow the flying boat back to Britain almost succeeded, but it collapsed and sank close to the British coast.

[43][44] As the losses of shipping to attacks by German submarines grew heavier, the destroyers of the Harwich Force and the Grand Fleet were increasingly diverted to anti-submarine operations.

The convoy was off Beachy Head when a torpedo, fired by the German submarine UC-61, hit Ettrick, blowing the destroyer in two, with the forward part sinking quickly.