A rough account of the Naval Engagement

An email received on 11th October 2020 from Tim Bullimore

"The letter was among some papers belonging to my mum.  My dad can't shed any light on the name." "There is a signature of the final page, but I cannot make it out."



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“A rough account of the ‘naval Engagement’ between the ‘British and German Fleets’ off the coast of Jutland on the afternoon and evening of 31st May & early morning of 1st June 1916.

May 30th 1916

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A beautiful summer morning, and the “Grand Fleet” lies peacefully at anchorage at its dismal northern base, the water is like a millpond, only a very slight breeze is blowing the smoke from the funnells of these ships of war, only a slight breeze, a very unusual coincidence for a place that holds the name of ‘Scapa Flow’. Sailors of “His Majesties Warships” are already astir, cleaning the decks of these majestic monsters, who in a few hours time would be upholding the traditions of the “Royal Navy”. They go about there duties as usual, with that determined look on there faces, for has not nearly two years of ceaseless vigil, and anxious waiting, hardened & bittered the hearts of these men, towards the germans, and made them more determined that when they did get the chance to have a tussle with the barbarians, they would see that they would see that they did not escape very lightly. So the day wore on, and evening with its cooling breezes

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relieves the heat of a hot summers day, yet a dull and monotonous one to these men, whose profession is on the sea, and who are now sitting, walking, or lounging about smoking on the decks of lazy, tire looking grey hulks. But suddenly the still evening air is pierced by the sound of bugles, echoing there note of obedience, throughout the ships, and by the sounds of the tramping of many feet as the men run to obey the bugles call. But why all this disturbance? And why all this quietness broken? Why, because the fleet flagship. “H.M.S.Iron Duke” is flying at her masthead, a string of flags, which denotes that all ships are to raise steam, and prepare to leave harbour. On looking at these ships again, one see’s boats being hoisted inboard, all things movable on deck are being lashed down, so that in case rough weather is encountered, things will not get lost or damaged. One also see’s clouds of thick black smoke issuing from all these funnells, for the ‘black squad’ whose work is right down in the bowels of the ship, are working hard to get steam, which will send these mammoth ships through the water, at an average speed of twenty three miles an hour. Suddenly a new sound is detected

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all around, another string of flags has been hauled down, and the ships anchors and cables are being hoisted from there muddy bed, to there stowages in the fore part of the ship. In a few moments everything will be ready, for these ships we see, are the main bodyguard of Englands shores, and they are about to proceed on one of there periodical sweeps of the great north sea, to clear it of any of the enemies craft that may be lurking there, and come within its gigantic sweep. Slowly at first, but withever increasing speed, until the required speed is reached, these monster ships that were lying idly at there anchors all day but are now full of life and vigour, begin to move through the water, and proceed to there station allotted to them by the flagships before leaving harbour, and these stations they retain until further orders are received from the flagship “Iron Duke” who carries the flag of Admiral Sir John Jellico, the man to whom England has entrusted her well being as far as the defence of her shores are concerned. The men in whom all the sailors have placed there trust, who they love for his considerations & thoughtfulness which are always for his men. The man who holds the lives of thousands of men