Originally laid down as HMS Narcissus but renamed before being launched in 1915, Nonsuch joined the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.

During the Battle of Jutland in 1916, after being attacked by the light cruisers of the German High Seas Fleet, the warship rescued the damaged destroyer Acasta.

[1] The M class was an improved version of the earlier L-class, required to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured new German fast destroyers.

The remit was to have a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) and, although ultimately the destroyers fell short of that ambition in service, the extra performance that was achieved was valued by the navy.

Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons geared steam turbines rated at 26,030 shaft horsepower (19,410 kW).

Shortly afterwards, the vessel encountered the destroyer Acasta, previously damaged in the engagement, and towed the stricken ship back to Aberdeen, arriving on 2 June.

[23] After the Armistice that ended the war, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and personnel needed to be reduced to save money.

[26] Nonsuch was declared superfluous to operational requirements, retired, and, on 9 May 1921, was sold to Ward, arriving at Milford Haven in September the following year to be broken up.