|
Date, Time of Despatch.
|
From
|
To
|
System.
|
Message.
|
Time of Origin.
|
| 31 MAY |
cont. |
|
|
|
|
|
6.5 p.m.
|
S.O. 3rd B.C.S. |
3rd B.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Disregard the Admiral's motions |
-
|
|
6.5 -
|
Strange T.B.D. |
Engadine
|
S.L.
|
Whole Hun battlefleet coming up, steering N. by E. |
-
|
|
6.6 -
|
C.-in-C. |
General
|
Flags
|
Alter course leading ships together the rest in succession to S.E. |
-
|
|
6.6 -
|
Lion |
C.-in-C.
|
S.L.
|
Enemy's B.Cs. bearing S.E. |
-
|
|
6.6 -
|
S.O. B.C.F. |
S.O.3rd B.C.S.
|
W/T
|
My position is Lat. 55° 58' N., Long. 5° 37' E., course
E., speed 25 knots. |
1805
|
|
6.6 -
|
S.O. 4th L.C.S. |
4th L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 18 knots |
-
|
|
6.7 -
|
S.O. Cruisers |
Cruisers
|
S.L.
|
Cease fire |
-
|
|
6.8 -
|
New Zealand |
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Sighted Grand Fleet on port bow. |
-
|
|
6.8 -
|
C.-in-C. |
Destroyers
|
Flags
|
Take up Destroyer disposition No. 1 |
-
|
|
6.9 -
|
Duke of Edinburgh. |
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Duke of Edinburgh opened fire |
-
|
|
6.10 -
|
Indomitable |
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Sighted battlefleet starboard side. |
-
|
|
6.10 -
|
Barham |
C.-in-C.
|
Flags and W/T
|
Enemy's battlefleet S.S.E. |
-
|
|
6.10 -
|
Duke of Edinburgh |
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Enemy Cruiser appeared to be hit and on fire. |
-
|
|
6.10 -
|
S.O. 4th L.C.S. |
4th L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Form single line ahead in sequence of fleet numbers. |
-
|
|
6.10 -
|
Tipperary |
Commodore F.
|
Sem.
|
Are you W. or V. ? Reply V. |
-
|
|
6.10 -
|
S.O. Cruisers |
Cochrane
|
S.L.
|
2nd C.S. form single line ahead in sequence of fleet numbers.
Admiral intends to proceed at 21 knots. Cease fire. |
-
|
|
6.10 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S. |
Shannon
|
Sem.
|
I am going round to take up position in the van for Easterly
deployment. |
1810
|
|
6.11 -
|
S.O. 4th L.C.S. |
4th L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Alter course together 16 points to starboard |
-
|
|
6.12 -
|
Captain D12 |
12th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
Take up cruising order L.T. |
-
|
|
6.12 -
|
S.O. 3rd B.C.S. |
S.O. 3rd L.C.S.
|
S.L.
|
Where is Lion? |
-
|
|
6.13 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S. |
Hampshire
|
S.L.
|
Can you see our battlefleet, and which way are they steering? |
1812
|
|
6.14 -
|
S.O. 5th B.S. |
5th B.S.
|
Flags
|
Form single line-ahead in sequence in which ships now are. |
-
|
|
6.14 -
|
Commodore F. |
11th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
Take up cruising order No. 2, speed 25 knots. |
-
|
|
6.15 -
|
Indomitable |
Indomitable and Inflexible
|
Flags
|
Form single line-ahead in the sequence in which ships now are. |
-
|
|
6.15 -
|
Indomitable |
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Invincible resumed Guide of fleet |
-
|
|
6.15 -
|
C.-in-.C |
General
|
Flags and W/T
|
The column nearest S.E. by E. is to alter course in succession
to that point of the compass, the remaining columns altering course
leading ships together the rest in succession so as to form astern
of that column, maintaining the speed of the Fleet. |
-
|
|
6.15 -
|
Inflexible |
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Altered course to avoid torpedo. |
-
|
|
6.15 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S. |
2nd C.S.
|
Flags S.L.
|
Form single line-ahead in sequence of fleet numbers. Ships in
column to be in open order. |
-
|
|
Date, Time of Despatch.
|
From
|
To
|
System.
|
Message.
|
Time of Origin.
|
| 31 MAY |
cont. |
|
|
|
|
|
6.15 p.m.
|
Fearless
|
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Large explosion seen in Enemy's line. 6.17.
Further explosion seen. |
-
|
|
6.17 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S.
|
Destroyers
|
Flags
|
Form Submarine screen |
-
|
|
6.17 -
|
Commodore F.
|
11th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
1st Division take station astern. 2nd Division take
station on port quarter. |
-
|
|
6.18 -
|
S.O. 5th B.S.
|
5th B.S.
|
Flags
|
Alter course in succession 16 points to port |
-
|
|
6.19 -
|
C.-in.C.
|
S.Os. in company. (Call sign
of S.O. 3rd B.C.S. apparently used.)
|
W/T
|
Priority. Present course of fleet S.E. by E. |
1815
|
|
6.21 -
|
Commodore F.
|
Active
|
Sem.
|
Keep out of way of Destroyers |
-
|
|
6.21 -
|
S.O. B.C.F. -
|
General
|
Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 26 knots |
-
|
|
6.22 -
|
Hampshire -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S.
|
S.L.
|
Our battlefleet appears to be standing to the Southward
bearing S.W. by.W. |
1810
|
|
6.22 -
|
S.O, 4th L.C.S.
|
4th L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Alter course together to S.E. by E. |
-
|
|
6.22 -
|
S.O. 4th L.C.S.
|
4th L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Form single line-ahead in sequence of fleet numbers.
Speed 25 knots. |
-
|
|
6.23 -
|
C.-in-C. -
|
11th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
Present course of the fleet is S.E. by E. |
1815
|
|
6.24 -
|
Southampton
|
C.-in-C.
S.O. B.C.F.
|
W/T
|
Enemy battlefleet bear 10 to 11 miles S.S.E.
Course of Enemy battlefleet N.E. My position Lat. 56° 58' N.,
Long. 5° 51' E. |
|
|
6.24 -
|
S.O. 4th B.S.
|
4th Division
|
Flags
|
Open fire and engage the Enemy |
-
|
|
6.25 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S.
|
Hampshire
|
S.L.
|
Close Minotaur |
-
|
|
6.26 -
|
S.O. 3rd B.C.S.
|
3rd B.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 20 knots |
-
|
|
6.26 -
|
C.-in-C. -
|
Dreadnought Battlefleet and attached Cruisers.
|
W/T and Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 14 knots |
-
|
|
6.27 -
|
S.O. 1st L.C.S.
|
Inconstant
|
S.L.
|
My speed has been reduced to 18 knots. Go on with
1st L.C.S. and try and get ahead of battlefleet. |
-
|
|
6.27 -
|
Lion
|
C.-in-C. via van Battleship and 4th L.C.S.
|
S.L.
|
Enemy battlefleet in sight bearing South, the
nearest ship is distant seven miles. |
1818
|
|
6.27 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S.
|
Destroyers
|
Flags
|
Form single line-ahead in sequence of fleet numbers.
Take station on the port beam of Minotaur, one mile. |
-
|
|
6.29 -
|
S.O. 3rd B.C.S.
|
3rd B.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Open fire |
-
|
|
6.29 -
|
C.-in-C.
|
Dreadnought Battlefleet and attached Cruisers.
|
W/T and Flags
|
Subdivisions separately alter course in succession to S.S.E.,
preserving their formation.
(Negatived.)
|
-
|
|
6.29 -
|
Commodore F.
|
11th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
Alter course in succession to E.S.E. Speed 20 knots. |
-
|
|
6.30 -
|
S.O. 1st L.C.S.
|
1st L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
1st L.C.S. join Inconstant |
-
|
|
6.30 -
|
R.A. 1st B.S.
|
5th Division
|
Flags
|
Open fire and engage the Enemy |
-
|
|
Date, Time of Despatch.
|
From
|
To
|
System.
|
Message.
|
Time of Origin.
|
| 31 MAY |
- contd. |
|
|
|
|
|
6.30 p.m.
|
Inflexible
|
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Invincible blew up |
-
|
|
6.33 -
|
C.-in-C.
|
General
|
Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 17 knots |
-
|
|
6.33 -
|
Benbow
|
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Benbow's first gun fired. B turret. |
-
|
|
6.35 -
|
Inconstant
|
Phaeton and Cordelia.
|
Flags
|
Take station astern of Inconstant |
-
|
|
6.35 -
|
Indomitable
|
S.O. B.C.F.
|
S.L.
|
What speed are you going? Reply: 15 knots. |
-
|
|
6.35 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S.
|
2nd C.S.
|
Sem.
|
Keep me informed of movements of our own battlefleet. |
1830
|
|
6.37 -
|
Commodore F.
|
11th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 14 knots |
-
|
|
6.37 -
|
Princess Royal.
|
S.O. B.C.F.
|
S.L.
|
Following received: Present course of fleet is S.E. by E. |
-
|
|
6.38 -
|
S.O. Cruisers.
|
Cruisers
|
Flags
|
Alter course in succession to S.S.E. |
-
|
|
6.39 -
|
Commodore F.
|
11th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 12 knots |
-
|
|
6.39 -
|
S.O. B.C.F.
|
Indomitable
|
S.L.
|
What speed are you going? Reply: 25 |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
S.O. B.C.F.
|
Badger
|
S.L.
|
Pick up men from ship on starboard hand |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
Commodore F.
|
11th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
Alter course together two points to port |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
S.O. 1st B.S.
|
Colossus
|
Sem.
|
Why are you hauling out of line?
(Note.-Made three times, no reply.) |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
Engadine
|
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Sighted Warrior in damaged condition. |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
Canterbury
|
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Shark or Fortune hit and on fire. |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
S.O. 4th L.C.S.
|
4th L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 22 knots |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
S.O. 2nd L.C.S.
|
Birmingham
|
Flags
|
Close |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
Benbow
|
-
|
-
|
Remarks: Acasta in danger of sinking |
-
|
|
6.40 -
|
S.O. B.C.F.
|
S.O. 3rd L.C.S.
|
S.L.
|
What is bearing of Enemy's Batttle Cruisers? Reply: Last seen 1820.
Altered course to W., engaged by 3rd B.C.S. |
1845
|
|
6.40 -
|
Hampshire
|
S.O. 2nd C.S.
|
S.L.
|
Shall I take station in the line? Reply: Yes, take stations
astern of Shannon. |
-
|
|
6.41 -
|
Indomitable
|
S.O. B.C.F.
|
S.L.
|
Invincible has sunk |
-
|
|
6.42 -
|
Commodore F.
|
11th Flotilla
|
Flags
|
Alter course together two points to starboard |
-
|
|
6.42 -
|
S.O. B.C.F.
|
Destroyers
|
-
|
Destroyers take station ahead |
-
|
|
6.42 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S.
|
Hampshire
|
Flags
|
Take station 2 1/2 cables astern of Shannon |
-
|
|
6.43 -
|
S.O. 4th L.C.S.
|
4th L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Admiral intends to proceed at 20 knots |
-
|
|
6.43 -
|
S.O. 2nd C.S.
|
2nd C.S.
|
Flags
|
Form single line-ahead in the sequence in which ships now are. |
-
|
|
6.43 -
|
S.O. 4th L.C.S.
|
4th L.C.S.
|
Flags
|
Alter course together 12 points to starboard |
-
|
|
6.44 -
|
C.-in-C.
|
Dreadnought Battlefleet and attached Cruisers.
|
W/T and Flags
|
Divisions separately alter course in succession to S.E.,
preserving their formation. |
-
|
