Smallbone Library: Oakham School Archives: The Battle of Jutland

Introduction

Battle of Jutland / Battle of Skagerrak (31^st May-1^st June 1916)

The Battle of Jutland was the only major battle of the First World War fought at sea. It lasted 36 hours. Both sides claimed victory. There was no decisive victory. Indeed, the British sustained greater losses, but they remained dominating in the North Sea. The Battle of Jutland was fought at sea, off Denmark’s North Sea coast. 250 ships and more than 100,000 men were involved in the fighting.

The Germans’ objective was to weaken the Royal Navy by ambushing their Grand Fleet. Admiral Reinhard Scheer had hoped to destroy Vice Admiral Beatty’s scouting force before the British Grand Fleet arrived. However, on 30^th May 1916, the British Admiralty broke the German signal codes and they put both forces to sea. On 30^th May 1916 at 10:30pm, Beatty’s battle cruiser fleet and the 5^th Battle squadron set sail from their base at Rosyth, Scotland, and Jellicoe’s Grand Fleet left its base at Scapa Flow, north of Rosyth.

The British Grand Fleet outnumbered the German High Seas Fleet. There were two major phases in the battle:

On 31^st May 1916, at 4:00pm, the scouting forces of Vice Admiral David Beatty and Vice Admiral Franz Hipper commenced an artillery duel at 15,000 yards in the Skegerrak (Jutland). The Germans sank HMS Indefatigable at 4:00pm and HMS Queen Mary shortly after, and damaged HMS Lion. Hipper’s ships were severely damaged but survived. Beatty lost three battle cruisers. He decided to turn north and lured the Germans onto the Grand Fleet.
At 7:15pm, Admiral John Jellicoe brought his dreadnoughts into a single battle line, taking full advantage of the fading light, and cut the Germans off from their home base. Admiral Reinhard Scheer was forced into retreat.

Casualties: By full darkness at 10:00pm, the British had lost between 6,200 and 6,800 men, and 14 ships (3 battle cruisers, 3 cruisers, 8 destroyers); the Germans had lost between 2,500 and 3,100 men, and 11 ships (1 battleship, 1 battle cruiser, 4 light cruisers, 5 destroyers).

Old Oakhamians who Fell During the Battle of Jutland

C.P. Tanner

Charles Philip Tanner

8^th November 1893 – 31^st May 1916

Charles was born at Cold Overton, Leicestershire to Reverend George Alfred and Josephine Elizabeth Tanner. His brother George W., born in 1892, went to Oakham School. He fought in the First World War and survived. He was awarded the Military Cross.

Life at Oakham School

Charles attended Oakham School between 1905 and 1911. He was in School House. His school achievements are listed below:

Rugby 2^nd lot: a three-quarter back – Winter 1906; Winter 1907; Winter 1908.
Rugby 1^st XV: Winter 1910.

Cricket 2^nd lot: Summer 1907; Summer 1908; Summer 1909.
R. Blatherwick, Esq’s XI: Summer 1910.
Cricket 1^st XI: Spring 1910.

Fives Junior Competition: semi-final (paired with C.C. Sills) and lost final (against C.C. Sills) – Spring 1908.
Shooting: Spring 1909.

Debating Society: Spring 1909.

Forms 1 and 2 Latin prize: Summer 1905.

Oakham School Magazine Reviews

In his sporting career, the Oakhamian Magazine made comments upon his rugby prowess.

Winter 1907 Rugby review: ‘Tanner ii is best at collaring and so is Wellington; Tanner ii, however, is much more certain in bringing his man down.’

Winter 1910 Rugby review: ‘Proved an admirable successor to his brother as full-back; he fields the ball well and kicks with remarkable accuracy; a plucky and fairly safe collar.’

After Oakham and the War

After school, Charles studied at Glasgow University in 1912. He gained a Whitworth Exhibition at Glasgow University in Summer 1915 and a “George Young” Bursary in Winter 1915. He obtained a BSc in Engineering on 25^th April 1916. He enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Sub-Lieutenant and was posted on board the HMS Indefatigable. His ship was part of the Grand Fleet, which fought the Germans during the Battle of Jutland. OO Orde Murray-Browne's brother, Granville, was a Lieutenant Commander on board HMS Indefatigable.