Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, the principal naval battle of the First World War. To commemorate the occasion the BBC2 aired the documentary “Battle of Jutland: The Navy’s Bloodiest day”. The University was heavily referenced and both Professor Philip Wilson and Dr Jon Downes were interviewed as part of the programme, plus the towing tank featured extensively. The programme can be watched on BBC iPlayer.
Key facts:
• The Battle of Jutland was fought over 36 hours – 31, May to 1, June 1916.
• There were a total of 250 ships in the battle; 151 British Grand Fleet and 99 German High Seas Fleet.
• There were 100,000 sailors overall engaged in the Battle, of which 1 in 10 were wounded.
• More than 8,500 were killed in total; 6,000 British, 2,500 German.
• One thousand men lost their lives when a magazine exploded on the British battlecruiser Indefatigable.
• The British Grand Fleet was under the command of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, who after the war became one of the founders of The Royal British Legion.
• This was the first time in history that a carrier-based aeroplane was used for reconnaissance in naval combat.
• There were four Victoria Crosses awarded after the Battle.
• The last surviving veteran of the battle, Henry Allingham, a British RAF airman, died on 18, July 2009, aged 113.
More information on the battle can be found on the Royal British Legion site and the programme can be watched here. The hashtag is #Jutland100