John, Edward Trevor

From Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project
Photo Gallery Crew List
HMS Revenge Crew List (Photographs) HMS Revenge Crew List
Narrative Source Photograph
BRIDGEND BOY IN THE JUTLAND
SEA FIGHT.


A Bridgend boy—literally a boy, since he is
only 17 years old—who did his "bit" man-
fully in the Jutland battle is Trevor John,
son of Mr. Wm. John, Grove Road, Bridgend.
Trevor has sent his parents a vivid account of
the battle. Dating from H.M.S. Revenge,
he writes:—
I should like to meet the one who said the
Revenge went out to pick up wounded. They
would have found a difference if they
had been in it. I will tell you as much as I am
allowed. We left our base with the Grand
Fleet as quiet as we always do, and I never
felt so well as I did then. We steamed about
for a bit. While we were steaming we heard
that battle cruisers were in touch with the
enemy, and were holding them. We still
steamed on. we being the second ship of the
line, the Admiral being ahead of us. The
next thing we heard was that the Queen
Elizabeth class had got into the fight. This
put fresh heart in us, as we had been afraid
the Germans would run away before we had a
chance to fire at them. At last we got in
sound of the guns, and were simply dancing
for joy. In my turret we were singing all
the time until just before we opened fire.
When we got in range the flagship opened
fire first, and then we did. It was terrible to
see. It was a lovely but awful sight to see
ships on fire and sinking. I will never forget
it. We kept oil firing until they ran away.
We claim to have sunk some enemy ships our-
selves. Their losses must have been terrible.
Anyway, we kept following them, as we
should have liked to have finished them there
and then, and we would have, if they had not
run away. We met the Germans about half-
past five. Of course, they expected an easy
victory over the battle cruisers, but found
they could not beat them, let alone us. In
the night our destroyers made attacks on
them, and sunk some more. Next morning
we steamed round the battle area, and down
south, and found the Germans had gone home
for another holiday. This will tell what sort
of fleet you have looking after you: We
fought on the 31st May, and patrolled all next
day came to our base, replenished, and were
ready to put to sea on the night of the 2nd
of June. I can't tell you any more, but will
if I ever get a chance of coming home. I
was sorry about George Farmer. All they
do at home for him he deserves, as it was a
very rough time for our boys. I lost about
two dozen chums on one ship that went down;
but wait till the next time we get a pop at them."
The Glamorgan Gazette,
Friday, June 30, 1916
Page 8

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