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UPLOAD DID YOU KNOW?... YOUR PHOTO The Battle of Jutland began at 4:48 p.m on 31st , lasted for 72 hours, involved 250 ships and 100,000 sailors. 6,000 British sailors and 2,500 German sailors were lost. Four Victoria Crosses were awarded; including the youngest to be awarded a VC - Jack Cornwell, aged just 16. Henry Allingham, a British RAF airman, was the last surviving JOIN OUR veteran of the battle, and ultimately WW1, he died on 18th July FORUM 2009, aged 113. George VI, the then Prince Albert, Duke of York took part.

The battle was the first time in history that a carrier (HMS Engadine) used aeroplanes in naval combat.

GET YOUR REPLICA Forces War Records Magazine is published by Clever Digit Media Ltd. MEDAL Editor: Neil White, Staff Writer: Nicki Giles, Designer: Jennifer Holmes HISTORIC FEATURE The Battle of Jutland The only major Naval engagement of the First World War

Sir John Jellicoe

The Battle of Jutland took place The Royal Navy, true to form, had flagship HMS Lion was struck by a in the North Sea, North West of previously decrypted German Naval salvo of 12 Inch shells that destroyed Sir David Beatty . It was the first time that communications with the help one of her turrets and very nearly the new Dreadnought Battleships, of a codebook captured by the detonated her magazine if not for developed in the early 1900s had Russians from the SMS Magdeburg. the timely intervention of the turret come to blows and only the third Intercepting the German signals commander, Major Francis Harvey of time that the big Steel Battleships they were alerted to the dispatch of the to seal the doors had engaged each other, following Hipper’s squadron and and flood the magazine. the smaller battles in the Russo- the was ordered to make Japanese War. sail and engage. The First of Many The battle was fought by the British The Grand Fleet composed of HMS Indefatigable, not to be Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet with 24 Dreadnought Battleships, confused with Horatio Hornblower’s elements of the Royal Australian 3 , accompanied by HMS Indefatigable, was less lucky, Navy and Royal Canadian Navy 8 Armoured , 4 Scout at 16.02 she was hit aft by three 11 commanded by Admiral Sir John Cruisers, 51 , 1 - Inch shells from SMS Von Der Tann Jellicoe and the German High Seas Minelayer and one of the first detonating her aft magazine. Soon Fleet commanded by Vice-Admiral Aircraft Carriers operational. The after at maximum range Von Der Rheinhard Scheer. Reconnaissance Squadron Tann fired again putting a single shot was made up of 4 Fast Queen through her forward magazine. The The Germans, recognising their Elizabeth Class Dreadnoughts, 6 resulting explosion was devastating fleet was inferior to the Royal Navy, Battlescruisers, 14 Light Cruisers and and the ship sunk immediately with intended to draw out and destroy 27 Destroyers – are we sure this force almost all of her crew. Only two part of the Royal Navy’s Grand was for scouting? men survived. Fleet, which was a numerically superior force, and thereby break the The German was At 16.25 despite the increasingly crippling blockade of German ports. numerically smaller and composed desperate position of the Germans, of some outdated vessels. The main HMS Queen Mary was struck by The Royal Navy similarly wanted to force consisted of 16 Dreadnought combined fire from Defflinger and draw out the High Seas Fleet and Battleships and 6 Pre-Dreadnought Seydlitz, this again detonated the destroy it. Battleships accompanied by 6 Light magazines of the British Warship With that in mind Scheer dispatched Cruisers and 31 Boats. resulting in her rapid sinking and all Vice-Admiral Franz Hipper’s The German Scouting Force under but nine of her 1275 man crew lost. Vice Admiral Hipper consisted of 5 Battlecruiser squadron to locate the Just a minute later HMS Princess Battlecruisers, 5 Light Cruisers and Grand Fleet and its’ own scouting Royal was struck by a salvo from the 30 Torpedo Boats. force of Cruisers. Reconnaissance German guns prompting Beatty to Planes were still in their infancy at At 15:48 on 31st May 1916, The Grand utter the famous phrase “Chatfield, this point and could not cover the Fleet’s reconnaissance squadron there seems to be something wrong North Sea effectively, hence the use HMS Kempenfelt commanded by Vice Admiral Sir with our bloody ships !” of the fast and well-armed Cruisers. David Beatty, received the first flotilla leader At 16.40 the vanguard of the main fire from the High Seas Fleet Enigma this! – Ok so the Germans German force had been sighted and Reconnaissance squadron. Poor during the weren’t using enigma yet but “Naval Beatty ordered his squadron to turn visibility resulted in the British return Communication Encryption This!” North and draw the German fleet Battle of Jutland fire falling far beyond the attacking didn’t sound nearly as good! towards Admiral Jellicoe and the RN German Squadrons. At 16.00 Beatty’s Grand Fleet. SMS Seydlitz after the Battle of Jutland, John (Jack) Travers Cornwell, boy of 16, Wikimedia Commons mortally wounded on HMS Chester during the Battle of Jutland is the youngest to be posthumously awarded the .

HMS Shark a destroyer disabled in The battle is also the subject of the opening action was continuing controversy notably around Jellicoe’s to engage four German destroyers action and the state of safety and was able to disabled SMS V98 procedures regarding ammunition before succumbing to a Torpedo hit handling in the Royal Navy. Jellicoe and sinking. Her captain Loftus Jones was criticised for being indecisive would be awarded the Victoria Cross and missing the chance to destroy for his heroism in continuing to fight the High Seas fleet. However, as despite the odds. commented “Jellicoe was the only man on either As the night crept in the Germans side who could have lost the war began to withdraw, coupled with the in an afternoon.” If he had thrown indecisiveness of the Grand Fleet the Grand Fleet against the High due to night fighting deficiencies the Seas fleet even with its numerical Marynarz Wilhelmshaven Germans were able to disengage. advantage there was no guarantee SMS Westfalen Wikimedia commons Several German ships were of success and had the Grand Fleet damaged or destroyed during the failed and in turn been destroyed the disengagement. Lutzow, Admiral story of World War One would have Scheer’s flagship was actually been much different. You can read or download the original sunk under Scheer’s orders by a story from our extensive Archive... German Destroyer; SMS G38 . The The Losses At 18.30 with both fleets converging Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS and heavily engaged, HMS Invincible 6,784 British Sailors were killed in Pommem was sunk after being hit by the battle, the magazine explosions was identified as a lone target and torpedoes fired by HMS Onslaught. singled out by the Lutzow and of several large ships contributing These detonated her magazines significantly to that total. They gave Derfflinger. A 12 Inch shell struck resulting in a large explosion, one of her turrets amidships and their lives in an effort to bring about breaking the ship in half and killing a quick end to the war. The crippling detonated the magazine. She sank the entire crew. quickly; all but six of her 1032 crew longevity of the British Blockade were killed. of German ports was one of the Won or Lost? contributing factors to the German Don’t mess with The outcome of the battle is the surrender in November 1918. Had the subject of some debate amongst blockade been broken, potentially We pay our respects to the Shark historians. While the German High the war could have lasted longer As the fleets converged Scheer Seas fleet sank significantly more with the German Fleet being able the 9,823 who laid down and the German battle line were ships and tonnage than the Grand to challenge Allied Merchant and their lives in the pursuit taken completely by surprise when Fleet did, the damage inflicted on Supply ships. they exited from mist and smoke them was enough to put the fleet of their duty. We must also remember the 3,039 facing the entire Grand Fleet’s out of action for the rest of the war. German Sailors killed as well. They main battle line. The lead German The German high command realised too fought just as hard as their Dreadnought SMS Koenig was hit that the attrition rate could not British counterparts for a cause they several times before the Germans be maintained to a favourable end believed in. were able to execute a “Battle About and the High Seas Fleet would be Turn to Starboard” a well-practiced exhausted long before the Read ‘Spotlight on... Jellicoe: Hero emergency 180˚ turn. Royal Navy. or Hindrance?” EXTRACT FROM OUR

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of the Battle-cruisers, from which At 4.40pm having reached the desired position, I turned to North position we had the best point of Commander Edward Bingham vantage for observing the enemy’s (approximately fourteen point to and the Victoria Cross salvos falling around the Lion. port), followed in succession by The enemy’s shooting appeared the rest of the destroyers, with good, and it was clear that he was this objective: (a) to frustrate the concentrating on Admiral Beatty’s intended torpedo attack by enemy flagship. destroyers on our battle-cruisers by intercepting them and bringing Shortly after 4.00pm the admiral them to action; (b) to push home signalled that the flotilla of our torpedo attack on the enemy’s destroyers ahead was to attack battle-cruisers. the enemy’s battle-cruisers with torpedoes. “Captain D.” in the The German destroyers then Champion immediately repeated his immediately turned on a course order, adding that the Nestor and parallel to ours, and the destroyer her division were to lead the attack. action thus commenced at a range of The attacking destroyers of the 13th, 10,000 yards. I promptly manoeuvred 10th and 9th Flotillas were as follows: to close this range. Nestor, Nomad, Nicator, Narborough, At 4.45pm the Nomad, my Pelican, Petrad, Obdurate, Nerissa, immediate follower, was hit in the with Moorsom and Morris of the 10th The following is an extract from boiler-room and hauled out of line, Flotilla (Harwich Force), Turbulent the publication ‘The Great War, I disabled. We in the Nestor got the and Termagant of the 9th Flotilla was there’ regarding the actions of range very quickly, and pumped (Harwich Force). The Onslow was Commander Edward Bingham who in three or four salvos from our detached on special service was awarded the Victoria Cross for 4-in. guns. Two German destroyers with Engadine. his valour “in the face of the enemy” disappeared beneath the surface, during the Battle of Jutland. I immediately hoisted the signal and though it is unreasonable Rear Admiral The Honourable for full speed, and ordered the definitely to claim the credit of Edward Barry Stewart Bingham VC, destroyers to form a single line sinking a given ship where many are OBE (26 July 1881 - 24 September astern of me. Then, shaping course concerned, my control officer is still 1939) served in the Royal Navy a point and a half in towards the prepared to affirm that the Nestor’s during the First World War. Bingham enemy, we ran full speed at 35 knots guns accounted for one of them. for half an hour, in order to reach was picked up by the Germans at At 4.50pm the enemy’s destroyers an advantageous position on the Jutland, and remained a Prisoner of turned tail and fled. Pursued by the enemy’s bows, such as would enable War until the Armistice. After the British, they divided themselves into me to launch the torpedo attack with war, he remained with the Royal Navy two portions, one half of which made the greatest possible prospect and retired as a Rear Admiral in 1932. for head, while the other took cover of success. He was made an Officer of the Order under the tail of the German battle- of the British Empire. Bingham died On drawing out to this position cruiser line. It must be remembered in 1939 and is buried in the Golders we observed the enemy’s fifteen that, although they were numerically Green cemetery in . destroyers coming out with the superior to us, the enemy’s GET ACCESS TO OUR 1,000s OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS WHEN YOU BECOME A FULL MEMBER AT FORCES-WAR-RECORDS.CO.UK When the action commenced, the object of making a similar torpedo destroyers were neither so large nor Nestor was about half a mile ahead attack on our battle-cruisers. so heavily armed. The Destroyer ‘Nestor’ closes to EXTRACT FROM OUR within 3,000 yards of the enemy to Historic Documents Archive fire the torpedoes MONTHLY MEMORIAL Jutland Memorial Park www.jutlandbattlememorial.com

Nestor had just fired her first two. GAZETTE ISSUE 29751, VICTORIA It is quite likely that one of those CROSS: The KING has been Sea War Museum torpedoes actually struck the Lützow. graciously pleased to approve of The Sea War Museum Jutland is built in Thyborøn on the west coast of She was subsequently sunk, and her the grant of the Victoria Cross to Jutland where the local fishermen prayed for the sailors in 1916. They survivors at Wilhelmshaven, whilst the undermentioned in recognition couldn’t see the battle, but the sound of the big guns came in from in conversation with the Nestor’s of their bravery and devotion to the sea like rolling thunder. ”Thyborøn is the perfect place for the new men, told them that a torpedo from duty as described in the foregoing museum. For me it has such a close connection with the battle and Nestor’s division had struck them; despatch:- Commander the Jutland Memorial Park, on the west yet it’s neutral. It definitely makes telling a balanced story an easier so this reduced their speed that Honourable Edward Barry Stewart coast of Jutland in memory of the task than if one is based in either the UK or Germany. Each of the two they became an easy prey to the 5th Bingham, Royal Navy (Prisoner of British and German sailors, who lost countries has very heavy legacies of the war to manage,” says Nick Battle Squadron’s gunfire. War in Germany). Register of the their life. Jellicoe, grandson of the British admiral John Jellicoe. Victoria Cross citation:- On 31st Thus I found myself with the solitary May 1916, at the Battle of Jutland, The battle took place about 100 Created by the Danish diver Below: Engraving on the gun from Nicator hot in the track of the German Sub U19 Commander Bingham, of HMS kilometres west of Thyborøn, where and businessman Gert Normann fleeing destroyers, and now rapidly Nestor, led his division in their the memorial park is built in the Andersen, who has led numerous approaching the head of the German attack, first on enemy destroyers dunes as close to the sea as possible. expeditions to ship wrecks in the battle-cruiser line, who were not and then on their battle cruisers. 25 ships went down in the battle, North Sea, says “It was here; the slow in giving us an extremely warm He finally sighted the enemy fleet and each is remembered with a large First World War was decided. welcome from their secondary and followed by the one remaining stone cut in the shape of a ship’s Whoever controlled the sea-lanes armament. At a distance of 3,000 to destroyer of his division (HMS stem. When the park is finished, the to Britain would win the war.” The 4,000 yards the Nestor fired her third Nicator), he closed to within 3,000 stones will be surrounded by 8,645 museum not only tells about the torpedo, and immediately afterward, yards of the enemy, in order to attain sculptures, each representing a sailor, Battle of Jutland, but also about at 4.58pm, turned away eight points a favourable position for firing the who lost his life. four years of brutal war in the to starboard, in order to get clear of torpedoes. While making this attack North Sea, and lots of artefacts the danger zone and regain the line The park is designed by the Danish Nestor and Nicator were under from the war are on exhibition. of the British battle-cruisers. sculptor Paul Madsen Cederdorff. concentrated fire of the secondary The initiative behind the park was www.seawarmuseum.dk The British boats promptly turned Suddenly from behind the head batteries of the High Seas Fleet. taken by businessman and diver to chase the enemy’s fleeing T.B.D’s of the enemy’s line there came a Nestor was subsequently sunk. Gert Normann Andersen. He was (torpedo boat destroyer) and while German light cruiser, who opened See the record on Forces War also initiator to the nearby Sea War I proceeded with my division, now hot fire and straddled us. It was just Records - https://www.forces-war- Museum Jutland. reduced to two boats (i.e. Nestor and about 5.00pm when two boilers records.co.uk/records/2846092/ Nicator), after those of the enemy’s were put out of action by direct hits. “The park shows the scale of human commander-edward-barry-stewart- destroyers who were making for the From the bridge I saw at once that loss and is a worthy way to honour the-honourable-bingham-royal- head of the battle-cruiser line, the something of the kind had happened. the dead of both sides on an equal navy-royal-navy/ other two divisions of the T.B.D’s A huge cloud of steam was rising footing. Situated next to the new went after the remaining, and larger, from the boiler-room, completely Sea War Museum, it will become portion of the German destroyers. enshrouding the whole ship, and an important centre recording the Just then the enemy’s battle-cruisers it was painfully apparent that our history of one of the First World altered course four points to port, speed was dropping every second. War’s most significant battles”, most probably this manoeuvre was Our speed died away gradually, until says Nick Jellicoe, grandson of the prompted by the warning splashes at 5.30pm we came to a dead stop. British admiral John Jellicoe. that marked the discharge of the (Extract from ‘The Great War I was VIEW OUR EXCLUSIVE We recommend ‘Jutland - The British torpedoes, of which the There.’) RECORDS Unfinished Battle’ By Nick Jellicoe Get 25% discount on this title here Military rank structures and trade designations can be difficult to QUICK GUIDE TO... understand for the un-initiated amongst us. Anyone who has not served in the military may be completely caught out by an Royal Navy ranks & trades ‘Artificer’ or ‘Farrier-Sergeant’ in military records. The Royal Navy ranks can be an even more confusing prospect, given that records often listed a sailor’s trade as his rank, the two being used interchangeably. In this tutorial we’ll isolate some of the more obscure trades and explain what they do and how you may find them listed in our records. For reference, the actual ranks of ratings (crewmen who are not officers) in the Royal Navy are: Royal Navy Ranks Able Seaman Artificers are essentially skilled hydraulics, electrical and firefighting Leading Rate mechanics, and within the Royal systems. The word ‘stoker’ is now Navy can be assigned a variety of only a colloquial term for a marine Petty Officer jobs in the engine room as previously engineering technician, but in our Chief Petty Officer mentioned, but also in the electrical, records you might find your relative aircraft and ordnance sections. You’ll listed as any of the following: Warrant Officer Class 2 most commonly find artificers listed as engine room artificers in our Chief Stoker Warrant Officer Class 1 records, sometimes abbreviated to Stoker Petty Officer ERA. They can similarly be broken On to the Royal Navy trades, and down to: three of the more common and Leading Stoker unusual ones you will find in the Chief (Engine Room, Stoker, 1st Class Forces War Records database. Electrical, Aircraft and Stoker, 2nd Class As with all of the Armed Services, Ordnance) Artificer potential recruits signed up to the Stoker, Fire Fighter Royal Navy with a good idea of what Artificer, 1st Class they wanted to do (their trade), Artificer, 2nd Class sometimes based on their civilian Did you know?... if you ever find a work. Anyone with mechanical or Artificer, 3rd Class rank or abbreviation confusing on engineering experience would be our site, you can always seek help much more useful as an engine room Artificer, 4th Class from our Support Team, who are all artificer, for example, than as a writer. Artificer, 5th Class incredibly knowledgeable. Writers were primarily clerical, being Artificer Apprentice responsible for legal, pay, welfare and career issues for a crew. When Stokers. Talking of artificers leads us the ship went into action, they could quite nicely to the role of stoker, a also be utilised with damage control trade which underwent a great deal parties for instance, passing vital of change when the switch from coal information to combat floods and to oil fired boilers took place in the fires. Each trade was broken down Royal Navy’s surface fleet. Prior to oil into numerous levels, similar to the fired boilers, stokers were primarily Royal Navy’s rank structure, but responsible for transporting and also denoting time in service and shovelling coal to the furnaces. Coal experience in a particular role. For fired boilers required a constant example, writer could be broken feed to keep temperatures high down to: enough for the production of steam, Chief Petty Officer Writer and of course you can’t pump coal in the same way as oil! Thus the Petty Officer Writer advantages of oil, and now diesel, gas or nuclear engines in modern Leading Writer surface fleets, are pretty obvious. Writer With the decline of coal fired ships, stokers’ duties shifted towards the Writer Probationer field of engineering, so that they GET HELP FROM OUR could be responsible for anything TUTORIALS HERE Boy Writer from the propulsion systems to HISTORY IN PICTURES

The Battle of Jutland UPLOAD BROWSE OUR ARCHIVE HERE YOUR PHOTO HERE

HMS Chester, going into battle, Wikimedia Commons HMS Chester battered and torn

Flight Lieutenant Rutland saving a wounded seaman who had fallen into the sea HMS Lion HMS Lion crew

HMS Fortune

Pet of HMS Iron Dukes crew - a Admiral Reinhard Von Scheer, Commander of the German battle cruiser, on Jutland Torpedo boat firing, Wikimedia Commons FJ Rutland sets out in his Seaplane from cockatoo who survived the Battle board his flagship Friedrich der Grosse, with his staff the Seaplane carrier Engadine SPOTLIGHT ON... Admiral Sir John Jellicoe often Many felt that a man of forceful splits opinion; some argue that the disposition was needed to lead the Jellicoe at Jutland: Royal Navy’s failure to completely Royal Navy in the greatest war that crush the Imperial Navy in the Battle Britain had ever known. The war had of Jutland was due to Jellicoe’s been going for almost two years as Hero or hindrance? timidity, while others credit him the Battle of Jutland drew near, yet with fulfilling a critical role at a very the only action that Britain had seen tough juncture in the navy’s history on the seas was a series of small with sense and restraint. Whatever skirmishes. one’s view on Jutland, there’s no doubt that Jellicoe enjoyed an The people were proud illustrious career, and played an of their country’s important part in shaping the navy as we know it today. tradition of naval greatness, and it Born in 1859, Jellicoe first entered the navy at the tender age of 13, and was widely felt that graduated two years later ranked the Royal Navy was second in his cadet training class. After his first two postings he took stronger than the the sub-lieutenant examination, and Imperial Navy. again excelled, coming third out Why was Jellicoe hesitating when of 103 candidates. He went on to a great victory would show the specialise in gunnery, and later saw Germans just who ruled the waves? service in Egypt in 1882, then he was appointed to the staff of the gunnery In fact, Jellicoe demonstrated good school in Portsmouth. It was here judgement with his approach. At that he met Captain John Fisher, that moment, critics were right in the school’s commander, who was suggesting that Britain had the hugely impressed by his promise. edge. The naval blockade of German ‘For those in peril on the sea’ Sailors holding a morning service on board the When Fisher was appointed chief- shores was holding, while Britain battle cruiser Queen Mary, a short time before she was sunk at Jutland of-staff to one of the senior figures was still able to move supplies in the navy, he took his protégé with relatively freely. Britain had the edge him as his staff-officer. Over his years on Germany in terms of numbers, with Fisher Jellicoe gained some with 150 ships available to fight to incredible experience that would Germany’s 99. All the Germans had set his career path on a steep track dared to do up until now was to upwards, helping to modernise the launch the odd smash-and-grab raid. navy. In 1889 he helped Fisher, now In other words, Britain was in a good Director of Naval Ordnance and position, with very little to gain from responsible for the torpedoes and a full-scale naval battle, and a great mines utilised by the force, to source deal to lose. The priority, for Jellicoe new guns for all the ships. at least, was to maintain the strength of the navy so that both Britain and Jellicoe himself went on to serve its empire could be kept safe from as Director from 1905 to 1907, then prowling enemy forces. Even if he Controller of the Navy, then in 1911 won any battle that occurred, he Churchill himself appointed him risked weakening his force. Why second-in-command of the Grand should he start a fight his country Fleet. By 1914 he was made the didn’t need to be in, when Churchill commander, fulfilling Fisher’s every had described him as hope for him. However, as Gary Sheffield’s ‘The First World War in “The only man who 100 Objects’ explains, there were those who questioned Jellicoe’s could lose the war in fitness for this role. an afternoon”? He was a naturally Unfortunately, the citizens of Britain saw things a little differently, and thoughtful, cautious so did the citizens of Germany. The sort of man, while his latter, in particular, were clamouring second-in-command, for something to be done to help lift the blockade, so Vice-Admiral Vice Admiral Sir was forced to drop David Beatty, was his tactic of a battle of attrition, ‘He held the fate of Britain in his hands’ depleting the strength of the Royal brisk, decisive and Navy bit by bit, to try and even out BROWSE OUR charismatic. ARCHIVE HERE avoid losses that could render his Navy was at sea, but not that the and timid. One can only assume his SPOTLIGHT ON... navy weaker than the Imperial Navy, main High Seas Fleet was also on the contemporaries judged otherwise, as and to prevent the Germans from attack. The scale of the damage was despite calls for his resignation, after Jellicoe at Jutland: posing a threat to British lands. Sure due partly to this misapprehension, the battle Jellicoe was promoted to enough, as Philip Warner explains in and partly due to the fact that Beatty First Sea Lord. In this role he had ‘World War One: a Chronic Narrative’, judged that it was necessary to put mixed success. He worked hard Hero or hindrance? he ended the battle with the navy his fleet in danger in order to fool the to combat the threat from enemy still stronger than Germany’s, with Germans into thinking that he was U-Boats, but hotly opposed the control of the North Sea, and, with fleeing for his life. introduction of the convoy system the two forces before he made a the exception of one quick voyage that later became the standard move. No, decisive action it was to in August 1916 (the Imperial Navy However, the plan to set method of protection for Merchant be. Read more about the Battle of turned and fled on catching sight of Navy vessels, since at the time it Jutland itself, on the evening 31st the trap was Jellicoe’s, the British Grand Fleet), the Germans was judged that too many escort May-1st June 1916 off Denmark’s never ventured out of harbour again and it had to be left ships would be needed for the North Sea coast, in the May 2016 for the duration of the war. Scheer to Beatty’s judgement system to be feasible. His dispute issue of Forces War Records had failed not only to divide and with Prime Minister Lloyd George Magazine. when the right moment conquer the Royal Navy, but to break on this point led to his abrupt As the battle ended both sides the naval blockade so that vital arrived to turn around. dismissal on Christmas Eve 1917. claimed victory, with Germany supplies could reach Germany. Jellicoe’s own decision to play it safe This failure, though, speaks more to jumping in first. his weaknesses as a politician than Yes, there was greater damage to the at the critical moment, rather than to his lack of judgement as a naval British ships than there maybe should pursue to Germans, must be weighed The British had lost commander. The convoy system, as it have been, considering that Britain against the devastation already turned out, worked well, but no such far more men – 6,077 had broken Germany’s codes and suffered by the Royal Navy (and system had previously been trialled was aware an attack was coming; especially by Beatty’s fleet) that day. to Germany’s 2,551 and other high figures had shared yes, it was Beatty who successfully This was a close fight, in which both and more ships – 14 to his doubts, so again, who can say lured the Imperial Navy into the sides were vulnerable, and Jellicoe he was wrong to air his misgivings? Germany’s 11. trap; and yes, Jellicoe failed to drive had to decide what was best for his The dismissal spelled the end of his home his advantage by pursuing men and for Britain. He couldn’t risk However, these figures aren’t public service, but Jellicoe went on the fleeing German ships, preferring running into a screen of U-Boats, really representative of each side’s to act as Governor-General of New to corral his largest ships to keep and even the impetuous Beatty felt achievements in the battle. For one Zealand and President of the them safe as the mist flooded in. that pursuing the enemy at that time thing, Germany lost marginally the British Legion. However, according to http://www. would have been foolhardy, later greater tonnage of shipping, 119,200 writing in his despatches, included to Britain’s 113,300 tons. Moreover, historyofwar.org/articles/people_ These days his part in the Battle of jellicoe_john.html, the codes had in ‘The Naval Who’s Who 1917’, “I did Jutland is largely lauded, and on his the aims of each side must be not consider it desirable or proper to considered. Jellicoe’s aim was to revealed that part of the Imperial death in 1935 he was granted the close the enemy Battle Fleet during honour of being buried in the crypt the dark hours. I therefore concluded of St Paul’s Cathedral. that I should be carrying out your wishes by turning to the course of the fleet.” So, the two men tallied in their judgements of the situation, even though Jellicoe acknowledges that Beatty was frustrated by the escape of the German fleet, saying, “I can fully sympathise with his feelings when the evening mist and fading light robbed the Fleet of that complete victory for which he had manoeuvred, and for which the vessels in company with him had striven so hard.” If Jellicoe failed to crush the Imperial Navy, at least he protected his side from further damage; in light of the fact that the German ships never did re-enter the war, who can fault his judgement? Without the benefit of hindsight, DO YOU KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT YOUR WWI MILITARY ANCESTORS? though, the British public were Why not search the Forces War Records site and take a look at the bitterly disappointed in his wealth of records and historic documents the company holds. Let us performance, calling it half-hearted help you start, or continue your family history quest. Artistic impression of V44 (foreground) and V82 (background), shortly after THEN & NOW... beaching at Whale Island. Reproduced with the permission of Mike Greaves, Maritime Archaeology Trust ASGFA, www.greaves2connections.com discovers Jutland wrecks in Portsmouth harbour by Dr Julian Whitewright, from Maritime Archaeology Trust www.maritimearchaeologytrust.org

The commemoration of the Battle Lottery funded Forgotten Wrecks The Forgotten Wrecks of the First of Jutland will mark the centenary of the First World War project World War project is a four year of one of the largest naval battles turned their attention to the area in project timed to coincide with the in history. Much of the focus is likely 2015, the origin and identity of the centenary of the First World War. to be on historical records, archive degrading iron hulls at Whale Island The project is funded by the Heritage images and accounts of those that had been completely forgotten. Lottery Fund. were present at the time. V44 is of particular significance in The project aims to raise the profile Unlike the vivid landscapes of relation to the Battle of Jutland, of a currently under-represented the western front, the material where it formed part of the 6th aspect of the Great War. While remains of Jutland’s North Sea Torpedo-Boat Flotilla. Under the attention is often focused on the battlefield are much harder to relate command of Lieutenant Karl von Western Front and major naval to, and certainly more difficult to Holleuffer, V44 saw action during battles like Jutland, historic remains visit. Advances in marine survey the early phases of the battle, firing from the war lie, largely forgotten, in technology have allowed some of the torpedoes at the British 5th Battle and around our seas, rivers vessels sunk during the engagement Squadron and Admiral Beatty’s and estuaries. to be located and recorded, while Battlecruisers. More critically, V44 With over 1,100 wartime wrecks remnants of the German High Seas was part of the screening action along ’s south coast alone, fleet can be visited by divers at undertaken by the High Seas Fleet the conflict has left a rich heritage Scapa Flow in the Orkneys. HMS on the evening of the battle, to allow legacy and many associated stories Caroline, in Belfast, stands alone as a the main German fleet to disengage of bravery and sacrifice. These surviving vessel from the battle that and turn away to the west. V44 underwater memorials represent is accessible to the general public. fired torpedoes at the Grand Fleet the vestiges of a vital, yet little between 7.22 and 7.24pm, along Work by the Southampton based known, struggle that took place on with the other ships in the 6th and Maritime Archaeology Trust has a daily basis, just off our shores. 9th flotillas, and the subsequent now added another landmark to Through a programme of fieldwork, avoidance manoeuvring by the the surviving remains left behind in research, temporary exhibitions British allowed the German’s to the aftermath of Jutland, and the and outreach, the project aims to complete their disengagement from end of the First World War more engage communities and volunteers the main part of the battle. generally. Two German destroyers, and provide a lasting legacy of V44 and V82, have been relocated Archaeological and historical information and learning resources and identified at Whale Island, within research and investigation of the relating to First World War wrecks the Royal Navy base at Portsmouth, remains of V44 and V82 will be for future generations. UK. The two ships were part of the ongoing throughout the summer V44 and V82 are just two of more German High Seas fleet interned at of 2016. Background work has than 1,100 Great War wrecks along Scapa Flow in November 1918, and now been completed, including an the south coast of England being both were prevented from sinking aerial drone survey of the site that researched through the project. V82 at low tide, looking from the bow (left), during the scuttling of the fleet the has allowed a 3D record of V82 along the surviving 32m of the ship’s hull, to the following year. They were then used to be created and published on by the Royal Navy in gunnery trials at the internet. This means that while two remaining partial boilers on the water’s edge. Portsmouth and having outlived their archaeological survey on the muddy Find out more about the courtesy of the Maritime Archaeology Trust usefulness they were sold for scrap foreshore of Whale Island continues, work of the Maritime and abandoned on the foreshore the public will be able to explore the Archaeology Trust at: http:// in the 1920s. By the time the wrecks from the comfort of their maritimearchaeologytrust.org/ researchers from the MATs Heritage home or classroom. WE RECOMMEND... Pen & Sword Books 25% discount (plus free P&P) on any of these titles with code: JUT25 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

Jutland: The Unfinished Jutland: The Naval Staff Voices From Jutland The Jutland Scandal Battle Appreciation AUTHOR: Jin Crossley AUTHOR: Admiral Bacon, Vice Admiral Harper AUTHOR: Nicholas Jellicoe AUTHOR: William Schleihauf Jutland was the only major fleet engagement The Royal Navy had ruled the sea Nick Jellicoe is uniquely placed to tell the An academic look at Jutland, this book to take place during the First World War, unchallenged for 100 years since Nelson story of Jutland. His naval connections are contains the original uncensored text and indeed the only time in history in which triumphed at Trafalgar. Yet when the Grand strong: his father, the second Earl served revealed for the first time in its entirety with columns of great dreadnought battleships Fleet faced the German High Seas Fleet as First Lord of the Admiralty while his footnotes from the author to make the naval fought each other. In spite of terrible losses across the grey waters of the North Sea near grandfather, Sir John Jellicoe commanded the text more readable and offer expert modern of life, the battle did nothing to change the Jutland the British battleships and cruisers Grand Fleet for the first two years on the war, commentary and explanatory notes to put it strategic situation in northern European were battered into a draw, losing far more from 1914 to 1916 – famously described by into a proper context. waters, in fact it simply confirmed Britain’s men and ships than the enemy. The Grand Churchill as being ‘the only man who could command of the seas and her ability to Transcribed from the now infamous ‘Naval Fleet far outnumbered and outgunned the have lost the war in an afternoon’. enforce the blockade which was eventually Staff Appreciation’ publications this long- to lead to Germany’s downfall. This new book German fleet so something clearly had gone “Jutland –The Unfinished Battle is a lively and hidden work is here revealed for the first examines the strengths and weaknesses wrong. The public waited for the official engaging analysis of the controversial fleet time. Now everyone interested in Jutland of both navies and identifies some of the histories of the battle to be released to learn action that combines new material with the can read it and judge for themselves, with an reasons for the disappointing performance of the truth, but month after month went by sympathetic but not uncritical perspective of expert modern commentary and explanatory the Royal Navy in the battle. with the Admiralty promising, but failing, to the British Commander-in-Chief’s grandson. notes to put it in proper context. publish an account… It takes a fresh look at many questions as to Produced as one volume for the first time, the conduct of the engagement that continue this book tells the truth about the scandal to this day to stir controversy and debate.” that developed following the largest battle Rear Admiral James Goldrick RAN (ret’d) ever fought at sea. •

EXCLUSIVE TO YOUR RESOURCES Other useful links we recommend: We recommend The National Archives, based in London, you can search for Collection of the month: records such as these: • WWI Medal Index Cards GET HELP FROM OUR • British Army War Diaries 1914-1922 TUTORIALS HERE Royal Naval Division (RND) Casualties of The Great War www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

We also recommend the following sites: The RND was a unique formation in WWI, raised by the Admiralty to ABOUT THIS COLLECTION serve in their hitherto traditional role The Western Front Association - Dedicated to the memory and study of WW1 This database is a register of the deaths of Royal Navy as Infantrymen fighting ‘shoulder www.westernfrontassociation.com servicemen who served in the Royal Naval Division (RND) to shoulder’ alongside their Army HIRE AN EXPERT in (WWI). It was compiled from original service comrades in an emergency. The RND WW2 Records - Request for personal data and Service Records RESEARCHER records and all other sources listing RND casualties. originally consisted of three Infantry www.gov.uk/guidance/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records Brigades (two Naval and one Royal WHAT YOU’LL FIND Marine) of twelve Battalions (eight The Ogilby Trust - Contact details for all Army Museums Naval and four Royal Marine). As Records in this collection are likely to include www.armymuseums.org.uk the following: the war progressed, casualties and a lack of recruits forced the RND to • Service number steadily reduce their Naval personnel • Rank establishment. Two Naval Battalions Miscellaneous sites: UPLOAD were disbanded in June 1915; the Royal YOUR PHOTO • Forename Marine Brigade and two Royal Marine Applying for a medal www.gov.uk/the-ministry-of-defence-medal-office • Surname Battalions were disbanded in August 1915. Two more Naval Battalions were Maritime History Archive • Awards disbanded in February 1918 and one www.mun.ca/mha • Service Branch Royal Marine Battalion in April 1918. At the war’s end the RND’s Naval strength Researching mariners and ships • Unit maintained only two Brigades of five www.mariners-l.co.uk JOIN OUR • Date of death Battalions (four Naval and one Royal Marine Battalion). The Army supplied German U-boats of both world wars FORUM • Cause of death Service History (summary of man’s the shortfall in Battalions & Brigades to www.uboat.net active service but may include enlistment date) the establishment of the Division from WW1 information July 1916 onwards. • Home service and previous military/naval service www.worldwar1.co.uk Criteria for Inclusion in this Database: • Burial (gives the place of burial and/or the relevant Naval history research and memoirs Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial All Naval servicemen who died in RND www.naval-history.net for those with known grave) service, 1914-1919, All Naval servicemen who died after leaving the RND, aboard SEARCH OUR COLLECTIONS HERE May also list the following: ship, ashore, or after discharge from • Occupation Naval service up to 1926, with special dispensation in individual cases up • Next of kin to 1942, Army troops who died while • Home address serving in an otherwise exclusive Naval Battalion or unit, Ex-Naval/RND • Birth date personnel who transferred from service • Medal entitlement in the Army or Air Force, Army officers drafted to the RND for service, often in Please be aware that due to the way we collate, and cross a senior capacity, with Naval and Royal reference our databases, some records will contain more Marine Battalions information than that listed above. The following is a list of all the branches of the Royal Navy that served in the RND: Royal Fleet Reserve (RFR), Royal Marine or Royal Marines (RM), Royal Marine Artillery (RMA), Royal Marine Band (RMB), Royal Marine Labour Corps (RMLC), Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI), Royal Navy (RN) ,Royal Naval Reserve (RNR), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve (RNASBR). IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH YOUR RESEARCH YOU CAN ALWAYS GET IN This database provides a definitive TOUCH WITH OUR CUSTOMER SUPPORT Roll of Honour for the RND. Previously TEAM WHO WILL HELP WITH BREAKING compiled RND casualty lists had many DOWN YOUR BRICK WALLS errors and omissions, which were corrected in this compilation. HELPING YOU DISCOVER MORE ABOUT YOUR MILITARY ANCESTOR TODAY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE FROM WWW.FORCES-WAR-RECORDS.CO.UK

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