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Today is the 103rd anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, the clash between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet that had been keenly anticipated by both sides for many years before WW1.
The Germans referred to the coming confrontation simply as 'Der Tag'.
The Germans referred to the coming confrontation simply as 'Der Tag'.
For 9,823 sailors on both sides, 31 May 1916 was a day they would not survive.
For them it was, as one of the many books about the battle has it, 'death in the grey wastes'.
For them it was, as one of the many books about the battle has it, 'death in the grey wastes'.
Many officers and men on both sides distinguished themselves as the two most powerful battle fleets in the world fought one another for the first and last time.
Five from the Royal Navy:
Five from the Royal Navy:
John Jellicoe, Commander in Chief of the Grand Fleet.
In poor visibility, at great speed and on the basis of very scant intelligence he made a decision that could have 'lost the war in an afternoon', and got it right.
He deployed the fleet to port: 'Equal Speed Charlie London'
In poor visibility, at great speed and on the basis of very scant intelligence he made a decision that could have 'lost the war in an afternoon', and got it right.
He deployed the fleet to port: 'Equal Speed Charlie London'
William Goodenough, commanding 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron.
He pressed his force on towards the enemy fleet, risking instant death at any moment, to ensure that he gave Jellicoe the fullest possible reports of its course and composition.
He pressed his force on towards the enemy fleet, risking instant death at any moment, to ensure that he gave Jellicoe the fullest possible reports of its course and composition.
As they closed the Germans, one of his officers was moved to say 'If you're going to make that signal, you'd better make it now sir. You may never make another.'
Francis Harvey, Royal Marine officer in charge of Q turret on HMS Lion.
Mortally wounded, he used his last breath to order flooding of the turret's magazine. This saved the ship from total destruction.
Mortally wounded, he used his last breath to order flooding of the turret's magazine. This saved the ship from total destruction.
Jack Cornwell, Boy 1st Class on HMS Chester.
He watched every other member of his gun crew killed or maimed by enemy fire, but remained at his post awaiting orders despite wounds that killed him two days later. He was 16 years old.
He watched every other member of his gun crew killed or maimed by enemy fire, but remained at his post awaiting orders despite wounds that killed him two days later. He was 16 years old.
Loftus Jones, commanding HMS Shark.
His ship disabled by enemy fire, he kept her one remaining gun in action despite losing his leg to a shell blast, finding time to order the hoisting of a fresh battle ensign after the original one was damaged.
His ship disabled by enemy fire, he kept her one remaining gun in action despite losing his leg to a shell blast, finding time to order the hoisting of a fresh battle ensign after the original one was damaged.
On the German side, it is difficult not to be moved by the selfless courage and devotion to duty shown by the officers and men of the battle cruiser force.
They had already suffered severe damage and many casualties, when they were ordered to charge the entire Grand Fleet.
They had already suffered severe damage and many casualties, when they were ordered to charge the entire Grand Fleet.
The purpose of this manoeuvre was to cover the main Germain fleet's withdrawal by sacrificing the battle cruisers.
Undoubtedly aware of this, every battle cruiser turned round and without hesitation headed back towards the vastly superior British guns.
Undoubtedly aware of this, every battle cruiser turned round and without hesitation headed back towards the vastly superior British guns.
Finally, the officers and men of the SMS Wiesbaden continued firing her guns and launching torpedoes despite being immobilised and subjected to withering fire from numerous British ships. She sank with only one survivor.
