Whitfield, Paul

Lt Cdr Whitfield was taken prisoner when his ship was sunk, and wrote from hospital on 8 June 1916 describing the fate of HMS Nomad and her crew.

He was recommended for promotion after leading 'a most gallant attack' on German battle cruisers during the Battle of Jutland. He was captured after his ship, the HMS Nomad, was sunk by enemy shellfire on 31 May 1916. In this cheerful letter, written from a German naval hospital on 8 June, Whitfield gives a lively account of the Nomad's last few hours. He concludes by taking issue with his captors' version of the battle: 'They would have me believe that nearly our whole Navy has gone, and they don't like me one bit when I tell them I don't believe them.' Catalogue reference: ADM 137/4808 (8 Jun 1916)

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/battles/p_captainsletter.htm?fbclid=IwAR33ozlW8qjOe_s8OgQRZliMKqMXLI_VUQFVHg6u8ZuQyRinuL2C58rH36w


 * 1) HMS Nomad Crew List (Photographs)
 * 2) HMS Nomad Crew List (updated in Real-time)