The Battle of Britain

The Battle of Jutland

German battlecruiser SMS Seydlitz; Badly damaged German battlecruiser SMS Seydlitz bows down after action. The ship was hit by one torpedo and eight 15-inch shells - five of which hit below the waterline - and eight 12-inch shells. Ninety-eight crewmembers were killed.

German battlecruiser SMS Seydlitz

photographs

Badly damaged German battlecruiser SMS Seydlitz bows down after action. The ship was hit by one torpedo and eight 15-inch shells - five of which hit below the waterline - and eight 12-inch shells. Ninety-eight crewmembers were killed.

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The Battle of Jutland was the only time that the British and German fleets of 'dreadnought' battleships actually came to blows. It was a confused and bloody action involving 250 ships and around 100,000 men.

The German commander, Admiral...

The Battle of Jutland was the only time that the British and German fleets of 'dreadnought' battleships actually came to blows. It was a confused and bloody action involving 250 ships and around 100,000 men.

The German commander, Admiral Scheer, planned to attack British merchant shipping to Norway, expecting to lure out both Admiral Beatty’s Battlecruiser Force and Admiral Jellicoe's Grand Fleet, further away at Scapa Flow. Scheer hoped to destroy Beatty before Jellicoe arrived, but the British were warned by their codebreakers and both British forces put to sea early.

On 31 May 1916, Beatty’s battlecruisers, supported by battleships of the 5th Battle Squadron, encountered Admiral Hipper’s German battlecruisers at 2:28pm. The Germans damaged Beatty’s flagship HMS Lion and sank HMS Indefatigable and HMS Queen Mary, both of which blew up when German shells penetrated their ammunition magazines.

When Beatty sighted the rest of the German fleet, he turned away. Scheer pursued him until Jellicoe arrived with the main fleet. Although the Germans sank another British battlecruiser, HMS Invincible, and an old cruiser, the Germans were now outgunned and Scheer turned for home.

Both sides lost destroyers during the night in a series of confused actions, and the old German battleship Pommern and the badly damaged battlecruiser Lutzow were sunk, but most of Scheer’s fleet escaped unscathed.

The British lost 14 ships and 6,094 men were killed. The Germans lost 11 ships and 2,551 men. However, the British were ready for action again the next day, and the Germans never again seriously challenged British control of the North Sea.

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  • Victoria Cross awarded to Jack Cornwell

    decorations and awards

    Victoria Cross awarded to Jack Cornwell; Sixteen-year-old Jack Cornwell was awarded this posthumous Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for gallantry, for his actions aboard the cruiser HMS Chester. Severely wounded, he remained at his post until the badly damaged Chester was ordered back to Immingham, in Yorkshire. Jack died in Grimsby General Hospital on 2 June 1916.

  • Jack Cornwell's funeral

    film

    Jack Cornwell's funeral; At first Jack was buried in an unmarked grave in Grimsby, but following a public outcry he was given an elaborate public funeral in Manor Park, near his home in Leyton, Essex. He became an inspiration to generations of boys, his picture appearing on postcards and stamps, and his name being given to Sea Cadet units and Scout troops. The Boy Scouts instituted a special badge in his honour.

  • HMS Queen Mary

    photographs

    HMS Queen Mary; A huge cloud of smoke rises when HMS Queen Mary explodes 38 minutes into the battle of Jutland after being struck by a salvo from the German battlecruiser SS Derflinger. Queen Mary blew up after being hit by two 12-inch shells on 'A' and 'B' turret and their respective magazines were detonated. In all, 1,266 men lost their lives.

  • SS Derflinger

    photographs

    SS Derflinger; Damage on the deck of the German battlecruiser SS Derflinger sustained at the Battle of Jutland and photographed after she had returned to port. She was hit by ten 15-inch shells, one 13.5-inch shell and ten 12-inch shells.

  • Map of movements

    photographs

    Map of movements; Map showing the movements of the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet before the battle.

  • HMS Invincible

    photographs

    HMS Invincible; HMS Badger approaches the wreck of HMS Invincible. The two halves rested on the sea bed and protruded from the shallow water.