Catalogue description Jutland. Contains reports of Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets and the Vice-Admiral...

Jutland. Contains reports of Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets and the Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet, 31 May - 1 June 1916, submitted for publication in the London Gazette, and the further report of the Commander-in-Chief with Narrative of Events not intended for publication. Includes:

Folios 12-36: Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets. Report on the action between the British and German Fleets 31 May - 1 June 1916. (Despatch for publication). Letter 1395/HF 0022, 18 June 1916, (paper M 05698/16) Includes; list of available ships of the Grand Fleet and commanding officers (paragraph 3); list of enemy vessels considered to be sunk, (folio 32).

Folios 37-88: Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets. Action with the German High Sea Fleet 31 May - 1 June 1916. (Secret Report). Letter 1396/HF0022, 18 June 1916, (paper M 05697/16). Includes; list of ships and organisations of fleet, (folios 74-76); sinking of enemy ships, (folios 78-83).

Folios 89-93: Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty Battle Cruiser Fleet. Report of Action 31 May 1916. (Despatch for publication). Letter 196/BCF 01, 20 June 1916, (paper M 05694/16). Copies of telegrams between Commander-in-Chief Grand Fleet and Vice Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet only, concerning publication.

Folios 94-109: Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets. Publication of Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty's despatch dated 19 June 1916, No 01. (Despatch for publication forwarded by Commander-in-Chief). Letter 1410/HF 0022, 20 June 1916), (paper M 05720/16).

Folios 110-121: Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets. Action of 31 May - 1 June 1916. Reports from Flag and Commanding Officers who took part. Letter 1415/HF 0022, 20 June 1916, (paper M 05721/16).

Pages 122-173: Admiralty minutes. Letter 1415/HF0022, 20 June 1916, (paper M 05780-1-2/16 and parts). Analysis of reports, points of interest and value, lessons to learn for distribution to fleet.

Pages 174-210: Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets. Report on Action of 31 May - 1 June 1916. To be substituted for submission dated 18 June 1916 No 1395/HF 0022 which is requested may be destroyed. (Revised despatch for publication). Letter 1395/HF 0022, 24 June 1916, (paper M 06495/16).

Folios 211-214: Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets. Action with the German High Seas Fleet on 31 May -1 June 1916. (Revised tracing of the Plan of Battle). Letter 1553/HF 0022, 8 July 1916. Letter only. Plan of Battle is in Volume HS 303, No 3.

Folios 215-220: Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets. Photographs taken on 31 May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland from HMS Oak. Letter 2369/HF 0022, 11 October 1916, (paper M 09029/16). Correspondence only. Photographs are in Volume HS 303, No 12.

Folios 221-374: Publication of despatch in London Gazette, (paper M 46580/16). First to Fifth proofs for Gazette. Admiralty Board Minutes (Message to Fleet). Includes handwritten comments and corrections by Commander-in-Chief and others. Copies of private and personal telegrams between A J Balfour and Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet concerning advisability of including reference to rescued prisoners of war (177 by German fleet, 0 by British Fleet) in Despatch, (folios 309 and 310). Drafts and final version of Message to Fleet. Press Bureau document titled 'The Battle of Jutland Bank and what it means' and dated 1 July 1916, (pages 368-371). Chart showing general course of the Battle, (folio 372).

Folios 375-472: Printing of narrative of the action, (paper M 05697/16 (part)), (paper M 07769/16), (paper CB 01256). Advance and revised proofs and final print of Narrative of Action. Includes correspondence between Commander-in-Chief and others. Plans and diagrams of Battle signed by Jellicoe. Final versions of plans and diagrams are in Volume HS 303.

Folios 473-481: Commanding officer HMS Chester. Preliminary report on action in which ship was engaged on 31 May 1916. Letter 2 June 1916. (paper M 05150/16).

Folios 482-505: Rear Admiral Commanding 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron. HMS Chester report on action 31 May 1916. Letter 221/0447, 26 June 1916, (paper M 05958/16).

Folios 506-515: Rear Admiral East Coast of England. Loss of HMS Shark. Report by William Charles Richard Griffin late torpedo coxswain. Letter 953/W962, 29 July 1916, (paper M 6856/16). Original handwritten and typed versions. Also reference to another survivor as Able Seaman Howell.

Folios 516-548: Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet. Circumstances attending the loss of HMS Shark in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. Letter 2986/HF 0022, 16 December 1916, (paper M 011160/16). Includes handwritten comment by Admiral Beatty concerning Lieutenant-Commander Loftus Jones posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross; 'No finer has been produced in the annals of His Majesty's Navy', (folio 517); statements of survivors; list of survivors, (folio 545). These are: W C R Griffin, Charles Filleul, C C Hope, C H Smith, T O G Howell, T W Swan.