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Battle of Jutland centenary commemorated in Orkney Battle of Jutland centenary commemorated in Orkney
(35 minutes later)
On land and sea the centenary of a misty night that changed the course of the first world war – its only major naval engagement but one that claimed nearly 9,000 lives – has been marked at many of the sites associated with the Battle of Jutland, and the men and ships that fought in it.On land and sea the centenary of a misty night that changed the course of the first world war – its only major naval engagement but one that claimed nearly 9,000 lives – has been marked at many of the sites associated with the Battle of Jutland, and the men and ships that fought in it.
Related: The Battle of Jutland: the Chilcot shambles of its day At St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney, descendants of the crews were joined by the prime minister, David Cameron, the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, the German president, Joachim Gauck, along with the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and representatives of Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Malta, New Zealand and South Africa.
At St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney, descendants of the crews were joined by the prime minister, David Cameron, the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, the German president, Joachim Gauck, along with the Princess Royal and her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and representatives of Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Malta, New Zealand and South Africa.
The German and British flags were laid on the altar during the ceremony led by Fraser MacNaughton from the cathedral, with the royal naval and German naval chaplains. The music included a piece by the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, an Orkney resident, which was one of his last compositions.The German and British flags were laid on the altar during the ceremony led by Fraser MacNaughton from the cathedral, with the royal naval and German naval chaplains. The music included a piece by the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, an Orkney resident, which was one of his last compositions.
In a message in the order of service, Cameron, who also gave a reading, said the ceremony was a reminder that the war was not just fought in the trenches. “We stand together … to pay our profound respects … and to ensure that the events of a hundred years ago will be remembered and understood in a hundred years’ time.”In a message in the order of service, Cameron, who also gave a reading, said the ceremony was a reminder that the war was not just fought in the trenches. “We stand together … to pay our profound respects … and to ensure that the events of a hundred years ago will be remembered and understood in a hundred years’ time.”
Afterwards, with sea fog gathering as on the day of the battle, the dignitaries moved to lay wreaths at the Lyness naval cemetery on the island of Hoy, overlooking Scapa Flow, the enormous natural harbour that became the main wartime anchorage for the British navy. Among hundreds of British sailors and service personnel buried there, many never identified, there are also 14 German graves: “former enemies now united and at peace,” said Laurence, who attended on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. A Royal Navy ship, HMS Kent, and the German Schleswig-Holstein, were moored close together in the bay for the ceremony. Related: The Battle of Jutland: the Chilcot shambles of its day
At Jutland Bank, the site of the battle, poppies, forget-me-nots and a specially designed poppy-shaped copper capsule were cast into the water Afterwards, with sea fog gathering as on the day of the battle, the dignitaries moved to lay wreaths at the Lyness naval cemetery on the island of Hoy, overlooking Scapa Flow, the enormous natural harbour that became the main wartime anchorage for the British navy.
There were commemorative events at Rosyth and South Queensferry, and in Belfast descendants of sailors who fought in 1916 were invited to the formal opening of HMS Caroline, the last surviving vessel from the battle. A ceremony with representatives of the Royal Navy and the Irish navy was held on board the ship, built on Merseyside in 1914. At Jutland Caroline was part of the force that sailed ahead of the main fleet to establish the position of the German battleships. Now docked near where the Titanic was built, it has been restored and converted to a museum as a £15m Heritage Lottery-backed project. Among hundreds of British sailors and service personnel buried there, many never identified, there are also 14 German graves – “former enemies now united and at peace,” said Laurence, who attended on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. A Royal Navy ship, HMS Kent, and the German Schleswig-Holstein, were moored close together in the bay for the ceremony.
At Jutland Bank, the site of the battle, poppies, forget-me-nots and a specially designed poppy-shaped copper capsule were cast into the water.
There were commemorative events at Rosyth and South Queensferry, and in Belfast descendants of sailors who fought in 1916 were invited to the formal opening of HMS Caroline, the last surviving vessel from the battle. A ceremony with representatives of the Royal Navy and the Irish navy was held on board the ship, built on Merseyside in 1914.
At Jutland Caroline was part of the force that sailed ahead of the main fleet to establish the position of the German battleships. Now docked near where the Titanic was built, it has been restored and converted to a museum as a £15m Heritage Lottery-backed project.
The Duke of Edinburgh had intended to attend the Kirkwall and Hoy events but accepted medical advice not to travel. Laurence, his son-in-law, said he had “a minor ailment” and had very reluctantly agreed not to go.The Duke of Edinburgh had intended to attend the Kirkwall and Hoy events but accepted medical advice not to travel. Laurence, his son-in-law, said he had “a minor ailment” and had very reluctantly agreed not to go.
His message had already been printed in the order of service for the cathedral and reflected the questions that have dogged the engagement in which both sides claimed victory. Whatever the outcome, he said, the commemorations were focused on the “endurance and gallantry” of all who took part.His message had already been printed in the order of service for the cathedral and reflected the questions that have dogged the engagement in which both sides claimed victory. Whatever the outcome, he said, the commemorations were focused on the “endurance and gallantry” of all who took part.
Victory is now generally considered to have been with the British: the German battle fleet played no further significant role in the war. However the British suffered heavier losses of ships and three times as many men, and the devastating loss of three great battlecruisers – faster and more manoeuvrable but with poorer armour plating – which sank with thousands of lives when German shells exploded their magazines. The Admiral of the Fleet, David Beatty, famously remarked: “There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today.”Victory is now generally considered to have been with the British: the German battle fleet played no further significant role in the war. However the British suffered heavier losses of ships and three times as many men, and the devastating loss of three great battlecruisers – faster and more manoeuvrable but with poorer armour plating – which sank with thousands of lives when German shells exploded their magazines. The Admiral of the Fleet, David Beatty, famously remarked: “There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today.”
The Guardian’s initial coverage reflected general confusion about what had happened in the darkness and mist. Its first report, on 3 June, was headed in the boldest type “Great Battle in North Sea” and three sub-heads further down “Final Results Hidden by Uncertainty about Enemy’s Losses”. The Guardian’s initial coverage reflected general confusion about what had happened in the darkness and mist. Its first report, on 3 June, was headed in the boldest type “Great Battle in North Sea” and three sub-heads further down: “Final Results Hidden by Uncertainty about Enemy’s Losses.”
Two days later the tone was much more confident: the heading was “German Losses the Heavier” – which, it would eventually emerge, was not true – and the sub-heading asserted “Berlin Reports Known Certainly To Be Untrue”. Two days later the tone was much more confident: the heading was “German Losses the Heavier” – which, it would eventually emerge, was not true – and the sub-heading asserted: “Berlin Reports Known Certainly To Be Untrue.”
Other morale-boosting accounts filled the page: “Mr Churchill sums up the results: ‘A definite Step to Victory’’; Kaiser ‘Smashers’ Run From Jellicoe”; “The British Object Achieved”. Other morale-boosting accounts filled the page: “Mr Churchill sums up the results: ‘A definite Step to Victory’’; Kaiser ‘Smashers’ Run From Jellicoe”; “The British Object Achieved.”
If the congratulations from the King to Beatty were somewhat grudging – “Though the retirement of the enemy immediately after the opening of the general engagement robbed us of the opportunity of gaining a decisive victory, the events of last Wednesday amply justify my confidence in the valour and efficiency of the fleet under your command” – there was a stirring report from “a Correspondent” in Edinburgh.If the congratulations from the King to Beatty were somewhat grudging – “Though the retirement of the enemy immediately after the opening of the general engagement robbed us of the opportunity of gaining a decisive victory, the events of last Wednesday amply justify my confidence in the valour and efficiency of the fleet under your command” – there was a stirring report from “a Correspondent” in Edinburgh.
Under the heading “How the Fleet sailed and came back. Sense of Victory among the men”, he wrote: “I watched the mighty ships pass out; I watched the victorious ships one by one come home. I emphasise the word victorious. To a hundred stories of the battle I have listened. The official reports have made one run cold, but I know otherwise.”Under the heading “How the Fleet sailed and came back. Sense of Victory among the men”, he wrote: “I watched the mighty ships pass out; I watched the victorious ships one by one come home. I emphasise the word victorious. To a hundred stories of the battle I have listened. The official reports have made one run cold, but I know otherwise.”