Difference between revisions of "Account of Eric James Patrick Brind at the Battle of Jutland"

Revision as of 12:34, 28 January 2009

pp. 123-131., Lorimer papers.

Account

On 31st May I had the afternoon watch, which promised to to be very dull and uneventful. Contrary to usual practice during these sweeps of the North Sea, there were no rumours of our movements or of those of the enemy. We were steaming E. by S. approx., and as usual zigzagging to avoid a possible Fritz. The 5th Battle Squadron,(in the order of Barham, Valiant, Warspite, Malaya) were about 50 N. of Sir David Beattie [sic] and his 6 Battle Cruisers.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd light cruiser squadrons were spread ahead with the 13th T.B.D. Flotilla.

2.30 p.m. Saw an intercepted signal, from Galatea to Lion stating that a large amount of smoke had been seen, apparently a Fleet under way. Shortly afterwards we heard that Light Cruisers were in touch with enemy L.C's and t.b.d's. As this was our first intimation that any Germans were on the ocean at all, our excitement and surprise may be imagined. Faces at once brightened and glasses scanned the horizon for a sight of the enemy. The pessimists still held out that in all probability, it was some wretched enemy Light Cruisers that would easily escape us.

3.30 p.m. Sounded off 'Action'.

3.15. Passed the Engladine with a seaplane in the water alongside. Officers and men doubled to their stations most of them never even guessing that a German had been sighted, thinking that it was the same old game, i.e., 'Be ready'.

When I arrived in my Turret (B), I knew that the Light Cruisers had been in action and that there was no time to spare. I had a hurried look round to see that all was well, and told the men what I could, viz:— That we might expect to meet anything from an enemy Light Cruiser to the High Sea Fleet and that B Turret had to get off the maximum number of rounds allowed by the control. We had, up to that date, been favoured by luck, but we must be ready for anything, and not miss a salvo. The men were greatly cheered by the news, assured me that not a chance would be missed to ease off a round at the Huns, and at once began to make little extra preparations, taking off superfluous clothing etc. They made all sorts of weird and wonderful jokes as to what would happen to any German ship that should be so unfortunate as to come within range of us.

[124]

3.50 pm. Our Battle Cruisers were heard firing, so i thought it was time to get to my silent cabinet. I saw nothing till about 4 p.m., when I sighted a German Light Cruiser at which our Light Cruisers were firing. Now things were beginning to look busy ; surely we would sight something bigger soon.

About 4.10. We turned to approx. S.S.E. I then sighted the German Battle Cruisers steaming on a parallel course. There were 5 of them, and I thought their order was as follows:— Three Derflinger class, followed by the Moltke, and last the Seydlitz. There were Light Cruisers and T.B.D's ahead and astern. I was sure the last ship was the Seydlitz, and not the Moltke, for I carefully compared the two and saw that the rear ship had a raised forecastle which is about the only way of distinguishing the Seydlitz from the Moltke.

4.15 p.m. We opened fire on the Seydlitz. We were the last ship to commence firing, as we were the last ship in the line. The range was 19,000 yards and the Enemy bearing about 2 pts. before the beam. The visibility was then good for ranging, but I thought bad for spotting, as the background was misty and exactly the colour of a splash, thus making them difficult to distinguish. Remembering my experience on the Belgian Coast, I started with the intention of making as full notes as possible throughout the action. This I managed to do with the exception of the times I had to go into the turret to try and remedy a defect. By a misfortune, which I shall never cease to regret, these notes became detached from the signal pad, and were thrown away by an enthusiastic boy as waste paper. I made notes of every salvo I saw, the target and anything of interest. Practically the only thing that I remember about the fall of shot is the fact that we hit with our 4th salvo. All the rest is jumbled in my head, and I cannot pick up the time at which various incidents happened.

When the Seydlitz was hit she turned about 5 points away, but shortly afterwards resumed her course. Very soon after, I remember thinking, I remember thinking they must be zigzagging as we were several times wrong for deflection. During this time the enemy were firing quickly but wildly. We fired quickly for the first few salvos, but as the light grew worse, our firing became more deliberate and the range closed. I did not have much time to note how the firing of the other ships fared. All I remember is that the enemy ships all seemed to be having a bad time, and that they appeared obliterated by splashes of our shell. I distinctly remember noting that the Seydlitz appeared badly on fire shortly after being hit by our shells, and that the third ship also appeared to be on fire. The battle continued in this manner till 4.50 p.m. The visibility [125]