Proceedings of Battle Fleet

7. On receipt of the information that the enemy had been sighted, the British Battle Fleet, with its accompanying Cruiser and Destroyer Force, proceeded at full speed on a S.E. by S. course to close the Battle Cruiser Fleet. During the two hours that elapsed before the arrival of the battle fleet on the scene the steaming qualities of the older battleships were severely tested. Great credit is due to the engine-room departments for the manner in which they, as always, responded to the call, the whole Fleet maintaining a speed in excess of the trial speeds of some of the older vessels.

The Third Battle Cruiser Squadron, commanded by Rear-Admiral the Hon. Horace L. A. Hood, which was in advance of the battle fleet, was ordered to reinforce Sir David Beatty. The difference in reckoning between Lion and the Iron Duke, which was inevitable under the circumstances existing, apparently caused the Third Battle Cruiser Squadron to press rather too far to the eastward, and it was not until 5.30 P.M. that this squadron observed flashes of gunfire and heard the sound of guns to the south-westward. Rear-Admiral Hood sent the Chester (Captain Robert N. Lawson) to investigate, and this ship engaged three or four enemy light cruisers at about 5.45 P.M. The engagement lasted for about twenty minutes, during which period Captain Lawson handled his vessel with great skill against heavy odds, and although the ship suffered considerably in casualties her fighting and steaming qualities were unimpaired, and at about 6.5 P.M. she rejoined the Third Battle Cruiser Squadron.

The Third Battle Cruiser Squadron had turned to the north-westward, and at 6.10 P.M. sighted our battle cruisers, the squadron taking station ahead of the Lion at 6.21 P.M. in accordance with the orders of the Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet. He reports as follows:

“I ordered them to take station ahead, which was carried out magnificently, Rear-Admiral Hood bringing his squadron into action ahead in a most inspiring manner, worthy of his great naval ancestors. At 6.25 P.M. I altered course to the E.S.E. in support of the Third Battle Cruiser Squadron, who were at this time only 8,000 yards from the enemy’s leading ship. They were pouring a hot fire into her, and caused her to turn to the westward of south. At the same time I made a visual report to the Commander-in-Chief of the bearing and distance of the enemy battle fleet. At 6.33 P.M. Invincible blew up.

“After the loss of Invincible, the squadron was led by Inflexible until 6.50 P.M. By this time the battle cruisers were clear of our leading battle squadron then bearing about N.N.W. 3 miles, and I ordered the Third Battle Cruiser Squadron to prolong the line astern and reduced to 18 knots. The visibility at this time was very indifferent, not more than 4 miles, and the enemy ships were temporarily lost sight of. It is interesting to note that after 6 P.M., although the visibility became reduced, it was undoubtedly more favourable to us than to the enemy. At intervals their ships showed up clearly, enabling us to punish them very severely and establish a definite superiority over them. The damage received by our ships during this period, excepting the destruction of Invincible, was slight. From the reports of other ships and my own observation it was clear that the enemy suffered severely, battle cruisers and battleships alike. The head of their line was crumpled up, leaving battleships as targets for the majority of our battle cruisers. Before leaving us the Fifth Battle Squadron were also engaging battleships. The report of Rear-Admiral Evan-Thomas shows that excellent results were obtained, and it can be safely said that his magnificent squadron wrought great execution.

“From the report of Rear-Admiral T. D. W. Napier, M.V.O., the Third Light Cruiser Squadron, which had maintained its station on our starboard bow well ahead of the enemy, at 6.25 P.M. attacked with the torpedo. Falmouth and Yarmouth both fired torpedoes at the leading enemy battle cruiser, and it is believed that one torpedo hit, as a heavy underwater explosion was observed. The Third Light Cruiser Squadron then gallantly attacked the heavy ships with gunfire, with impunity to themselves, thereby demonstrating that the fighting efficiency of the enemy had been seriously impaired. Rear-Admiral Napier deserves great credit for his determined and effective attack. Indomitable reports that about this time one of the Derfflinger class fell out of the enemy’s line.”

8. Meanwhile, at 6 P.M., Canterbury (Captain Percy M. R. Royds) had engaged enemy light cruisers which were firing heavily on the torpedo-boat destroyer Shark (Commander Loftus W. Jones), Acasta (Lieutenant-Commander John O. Barron), and Christopher (Lieutenant-Commander Fairfax M. Kerr); as a result of this engagement the Shark was sunk.

9. At 5.45 P.M. the report of guns had become audible to me, and at 5.55 P.M. flashes were visible from ahead round to the starboard beam, although in the mist no ships could be distinguished and the position of the enemy’s battle fleet could not be determined. The difference in reckoning between Iron Duke and Lion mentioned in paragraph 6 added to the uncertainty of the general situation.

10. Shortly after 5.55 P.M. some of the cruisers ahead, under Rear-Admirals Herbert L. Heath and Sir Robert Arbuthnot, were seen to be in action, and reports received show that Defence, Flagship (Captain Stanley V. Ellis), and Warrior (Captain Vincent B. Molteno), of the First Cruiser Squadron, engaged an enemy light cruiser at this time, which subsequently sank.

11. At 6 P.M. vessels, afterwards seen to be our battle cruisers, were sighted by Marlborough bearing before the starboard beam of the battle fleet.

At the same time the Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet, reported to me the position of the enemy battle cruisers, and at 6.14 P.M. reported the position of the enemy battle fleet.

At this period, when the battle fleet was meeting the battle cruisers and the Fifth Battle Squadron, great care was necessary to ensure that our own ships were not mistaken for enemy vessels.

12. I formed the battle fleet in line of battle on receipt of Sir David Beatty’s report, and during deployment the fleets became engaged. Sir David Beatty had meanwhile formed the battle cruisers ahead of the battle fleet.

The divisions of the battle fleet were led by:

13. At 6.16 P.M. Defence and Warrior were observed passing down between the British and German Battle Fleets under a very heavy fire. Defence was seen to blow up and Warrior passed to the rear disabled. It is probable that Sir Robert Arbuthnot, during his engagement with the enemy’s light cruisers and in his desire to complete their destruction, was not aware of the approach of the enemy’s heavy ships, owing to the mist, until he found himself in close proximity to the main fleet, and before he could withdraw his ships they were caught under a heavy fire and disabled. It is not known when Black Prince (Captain Thomas P. Bonham), of the same squadron, was sunk, but as a wireless signal was received from her between 8 and 9 P.M. reporting the position of a submarine, it is possible that her loss was the result of a torpedo attack. There is much strong evidence of the presence of a large number of enemy submarines in the vicinity of the scene of the action.

14. The First Battle Squadron, which was in the rear on deployment, became engaged during deployment, the Vice-Admiral opening fire at 6.17 P.M. on a battleship of the “Kaiser” class. The centre squadron, which had previously been firing at an enemy light cruiser, opened fire at 6.30 P.M. on a battleship of the “König” class, and the van squadron commenced immediately afterwards.

At 6.6 P.M. the Rear-Admiral Commanding, Fifth Battle Squadron, then in company with the battle cruisers, had sighted the starboard wing division of the battle fleet on the port bow of Barham, and the first intention of Rear-Admiral Evan-Thomas was to form ahead of the remainder of the battle fleet, but on realising the direction of deployment he was compelled to form astern, a manœuvre which was well executed by the squadron under a heavy fire from the enemy battle fleet. An accident to Warspite’s steering gear caused her helm to become jammed temporarily and took the ship in the direction of the enemy’s line, during which time she was hit several times. Clever handling enabled Captain Phillpotts to extricate his ship from a somewhat awkward situation.

Owing principally to the mist, but partly to the smoke, it was possible to see only a few ships at a time in the enemy’s battle line. Towards the van only some four or five ships were ever visible at once. More could be seen from the rear squadron, but never more than eight to twelve.

The action between the battle fleets lasted intermittently from 6.17 P.M. to 8.20 P.M. at ranges between 9,000 and 12,000 yards, during which time the British Fleet made alterations of course from S.E. by E. to W. in the endeavour to close. The enemy constantly turned away and opened the range under cover of destroyer attacks and smoke screens as the effect of the British fire was felt, and the alterations, of course, had the effect of bringing the British Fleet (which commenced the action in a position of advantage on the bow of the enemy) to a quarterly bearing from the enemy battle line, but at the same time placed us between the enemy and his bases.

At 6.55 P.M. Iron Duke passed the wreck of Invincible with Badger standing by. I was not aware of the loss of Queen Mary and Indefatigable until the following day.

15. During the somewhat brief periods that the ships of the High Sea Fleet were visible through the mist, the heavy and effective fire kept up by the battleships and battle cruisers of the Grand Fleet caused me much satisfaction, and the enemy vessels were seen to be constantly hit, some being observed to haul out of the line, and at least one to sink. The enemy’s return fire at this period was not effective, and the damage caused to our ships was insignificant.