49976: Battle of Jutland

The Battle of Jutland was the largest naval battle of the First World War. It was fought in the North Sea near Jutland, the mainland of Denmark, by the Kaiserliche Marine’s High Seas Fleet (commanded by Vice Admiral Reinhard Scheer) and the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet (commanded by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe). The German objective was to destroy the British naval blockade of the North Sea and permit the German mercantile shipping to operate again.

The German plan was to lure Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty’s battlecruiser squadrons into the path of the main German battle fleet and destroy them, but the British were aware that a major fleet operation was likely, so on 30th May 1916 Admiral Jellicoe sailed to rendezvous with Beatty.

On 31st May the two fleets, numbering 250 ships, clashed with huge loss of life: eleven German and fourteen British ships were sunk.

Both sides claimed victory; the British had lost more ships and sailors but the German objective had failed. Although Germany was a continuing threat in the North Sea it never gained control.

Lewismen casualties of the Battle of Jutland:

• Angus Graham of 4 New Garrabost (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Alexander MacArthur of 48 Lewis Street, Stornoway (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• John Macarthur of 8 Cromore (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Roderick Macdonald of 9 Gravir (on board HMS Queen Mary which was sunk)
• Angus Maciver of 64 North Tolsta (on board HMS Broke which survived)
• Angus Maclean of 17 Habost (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• John Macleod of 56 North Tolsta (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Norman MacLeod of 28 Lower Barvas (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Finlay MacRitchie of 46 Lower Barvas (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Allan Macsween of Battery Park (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Donald Morrison of 9 Calbost (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Malcolm Murray of 5 New Garrabost (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Murdo Murray of 27 North Tolsta (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)
• Donald Smith of 11 Cross (on board HMS Invincible which was sunk)

Lewisman survivor of the Battle of Jutland:

• Kenneth Campbell of 54 North Tolsta (on board the HMS Galatea which survived)

At least twelve Lewismen were aboard HMS Invincible when she sank, More information can be found at the North Tolsta Historical Society World War One website.