Post by Administrator on May 30, 2016 21:47:15 GMT
Sad Local Losses at the Battle of Jutland
- Alun Robertson
On the 31st May 2016, it will be exactly 100 years since the British Grand fleet and the German High seas fleet clashed in the North sea at the Battle of Jutland. This huge sea battle involving 274 warships, manned by over 70,000 sailors was the only time during the First World War that the main fleets of both nations fought each other.
In the early hours of the 31st May 1916, the German fleet under Admiral Scheer (consisting of 27 Capital ships plus over 80 Light cruisers and Destroyers) began a sweep along the Danish coast. Alerted by German radio traffic the British Grand fleet (consisting of 28 Battleships and 3 Battle cruisers) under Admiral Jellicoe sailed from Scapa Flow while another force (consisting of 6 Battle cruisers plus 4 Battle ships) under Admiral Beatty sailed from Rosyth.
By mid afternoon, Beatty’s force made contact with the German fleet and at 15.45 the Battle cruisers of both fleets opened fire. The British Battle cruisers were built for speed but to obtain this speed, protective armour had to be sacrificed. This would now cause major problems. The Battle cruiser HMS Indefatigable received five hits in quick succession. The shells smashing through the lightly armoured decks caused a huge explosion which broke her in two. Out of her crew of 1,133 men only six survived. Amongst those killed were; Engine room Artificer William Thomas Watkins aged 21, the son of Mr and Mrs J.W. Watkins of 29 Dock St Penarth. Also Leading Stoker Alfred John Harvey, aged 24, son of Matthew and Elizabeth Harvey of 1 Riverside, Cadoxton. (Alfred’s younger brother Phillip also served at Jutland as a stoker aboard the Battle cruiser HMS New Zealand. He would survive the war only to die of pneumonia in a naval hospital in February 1919.)
Just over 20 minutes after the sinking of the Indefatigable, the Battle cruiser, HMS Queen Mary received several hits, exploded and sank in just 90 seconds. A huge 800 ft high tower of smoke marked where she had once been.
Only 20 men survived from a crew of 1,286. Amongst those killed were; Ordinary Seaman Charles Clifford Roberts from Millbrook Road, Dinas Powys and Gunner William George Bwye, Royal Marine Artillery aged 21, son of Robert Bwye, 28 King Street, Penarth. Sadly 13 months after William's death, Robert Bwye would receive notification informing him that William’s younger brother Frank had been killed in France serving with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Admiral Beatty now began to manoeuvre his ships North so that the Germans would follow him to where Jellicoe’s more powerful fleet were waiting in ambush. At 18.14, Jellicoe received news of the position of the German fleet and began to deploy his ships in battle formation.
Unfortunately the 1st Cruiser squadron, under Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot consisting of the old armoured Cruisers, HMS Defence, HMS Duke of Edinburgh and HMS Warrior, found themselves positioned between the two fleets. These old ships were no match for modern German Dreadnoughts and were soon being battered by German shells. HMS Defence was sunk with the loss of 903 men including Rear Admiral Arbuthnot, along with two Barry men; Able Seaman Signaller Charles Edward Kirby aged 18 from Amherst Crescent and Able Seaman Walter John Down aged 17 from Kathleen Street.
Admiral Scheer now realised he was facing the full might of the British fleet and was completely outgunned. However when the Battle cruiser HMS Invincible suddenly became illuminated by an improvement in visibility several shells were fired at her and one of them penetrated Q turret causing a massive explosion. 1026 men were killed in an instant. Amongst them, Admiral Horace Hood and the last two Barry men to die in the battle; Able Seaman Robert Wills Davies 26, formally of Kingsland Crescent and Engineer Artificer 3rd class, Thomas James Phillips aged 24, son of Captain John Phillips, the Barry Harbour Pier Master who lived at 54 Court Road.
Under the cover of smoke screens and destroyer attacks, Admiral Scheer headed his battered fleet back to port. In the failing light Jellicoe decided not to follow and so the Battle came to an inconclusive end.
The Germans claimed victory as they had sank 3 British Battle cruisers, 3 Armoured Cruisers and 8 Destroyers with the loss of 6094 British sailors. Compared to this, the Germans had lost 1 Battle cruiser, 1 old Battle ship, 4 Light cruisers and 5 Destroyers losing 2551 men.
Two days after the Battle, the British fleet had been refuelled, had its ammunition replenished and was ready for further action. The German fleet however, remained bottled up in port never to venture out for the rest of the war.
For the Germans, a hollow victory indeed.