The Battle of Jutland Centenary

John Jellicoe Admiral of the Fleet

This year marks the centenary of the Battle of Jutland which took place between May 31st and June 1st 1916.

The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle fought by the British Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, against the Imperial German Navy’s High Seas Fleet under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer during the First World War. It was fought in the North Sea, off the coast of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula and was the only major naval battle of the 1914-18 war. It brought together the two most powerful naval forces of the time and it became the largest sea battle in naval warfare history in terms of the numbers of battleships engaged. More than 6,000 Britons and 2,500 Germans died in the 36 hour battle involving about 250 ships. Germany claimed victory but her ships did not try to challenge the British Grand Fleet again. Britain retained the larger navy and ensured it could send troops and supplies to Europe until the end of the war.

The Isle of Wight lost many men and in Ryde we have records for 10. Ryde also had a significant interest in the proceedings which were quite controversial at the time, as Admiral Sir John Jellicoe had family members who lived at Northfield in George Street. The Admiral’s father had died in 1914 but his mother and sisters still resided there. His mother died in October 1916.

Ryde Men Who Lost their Lives at the Battle of Jutland

HMS Queen Mary 31 May 1916

George Stanley Ash, aged 25, son of William and Eleanor Ash, St. Stephen’s, St. John’s Road.

William Albert Hunter, aged 38, son of Elizabeth Hunter, Scotia Cottage, 25 Surrey Street.

George Newman, aged 29, son of Louisa Mary Newman, Stanley Cottage, George Street and the late George Robert Newman.

James Henry Pragnell, aged 22, son of Annie and Thomas James Pragnell, Arethusa Cottage, Smallbrook.

Alfred George Williams, aged 31, son of Alfred George Williams and Elizabeth Williams; husband of Eva Minnie Williams, 1 Hill Street.

Ernest Edward Young, aged 19, son of Mr and Mrs G Young, 3 Milligan Road.

HMS Black Prince 31 May 1916

Richard George French, aged 21, son of Annie Elizabeth French, 6 St. John’s Place.

Herbert William Price, aged 21, son of Herbert Richard and Kate Price, 20 Colenutts Road, Haylands.

HMS Invincible 31 May 1916

Frederick Charles James, aged 21, son of Frederick William and Emily James, Upton Lodge Dairy, Upton.

HMS Ardent 1 June 1916

Edward Charles White, aged 38, son of William and Ellen White of Portsmouth and husband of Alice Louise White, 1 Swanmore View, Mitchell’s Road, Haylands.

Sources: Wikipedia & Isle of Wight Memorials website

Destruction of HMS Invincible at Jutland

HMS Ardent

HMS Black Prince