Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: Battle of Jutland
AssociatedAssociated with
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
(Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)
Medallist
John Pinches, Medallists
DateMay 2004
Object NameMedal
MediumSterling Silver
ClassificationsMedals
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS072500.84
Keywords
It was the only full-scale encounter during the First World War between the Grand Fleet of Great Britain, led by Admiral Jellicoe, and the High Seas Fleet of Imperial Germany, led by Admiral Scheer.
The action, which began not far from the peninsula of Jutland, where the sound of the guns could be heard, opened on the afternoon of 3lst May when the British battle cruiser force, led by Beatty, met the German battle cruisers - under Hipper. In a long-range duel, fought in varying visibility, the British suffered the loss of the battle cruisers Queen Mary and Indefatigable from magazine explosions. Undeterred, and supported by the 5th Battle Squadron, Beatty continued in action until his cruisers reported the presence of the main German Fleet. He then led his ships toward Jellico, who was racing down from the north to his support, but was then some distance away. A third battle cruiser was lost soon after the two Fleets met.
Beatty succeeded in his primary task and Scheer was amazed to find that he had run into a trap, and was facing a huge arc of fire stretching to the horizon. He escaped by turning his ships together, not once but twice, and was able to return to his base during the hours of darkness following the action.
The British losses were three battle cruisers, three cruisers and eight destroyers. The Germans escaped more lightly with the loss of one battleship, one battle cruiser, three cruisers -and five destroyers. Seheer and Hipper had fought splendidly, but Britain remained -predominant on the surface of the seas. It was an American commentator who summed up the result most succinctly when he wrote: 'the High Seas Fleet [of Imperial Germany] has assaulted its jailer but is still in jail.'
The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.
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