The second of the four Yarrow-built destroyers, "Hotspur" was laid down at Yarrow's Scotstoun yard on 24 July 1912. On 30 September 1913, the 1912–1913 destroyers, which were previously to be known as the "Rob Roy" class, were redesignated the L or "Laforey" class, with the ships given new names string with the letter L. "Hotspur" was renamed "Landrail". "Landrail" was launched on 7 February 1914 and completed in June that year, being handed over to the Royal Navy on 10 June. On the outbreak of the First World War, "Landrail", like the rest of the "Laforey" class, joined the Harwich Force, which operated in the southern North Sea and could reinforce the Grand Fleet or forces in the English Channel as required. On 5 August 1914, the Third Destroyer Flotilla, led by the light cruiser 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 were ordered ahead of the flotilla to investigate, and came across the German minelayer , laying mines off Southwold on the Sussex coast. The German ship attempted to escape to neutral waters, but was engaged and sunk by "Lance", "Landrail" and "Amphion". The flotilla was returning from the sweep on 6 August when it ran into the minefield laid by "Königin Luise", with "Amphion" striking two mines and sinking, with the loss of 151 of "Amphion"s crew, together with 18 survivors from "Königin Luise". 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. "Landrail" formed part of the 2nd Division of the Third Flotilla during this operation. "Landrail" took part in torpedo attacks against the German light cruisers and , with "Landrail" claiming one hit on "Mainz". On 24 October 1914, "Landrail" set out from Harwich as part of the escort for the seaplane carriers and on a raid against the German airship base at Cuxhaven.