EXPLANATORY NOTE BY THE ADMIRALTY

1. The present volume is a reproduction of the text of the proof of what was known in the Admiralty as the "Record of the Battle of Jutland," printed in March 1920. Captain J. E. T. Harper and four other Officers were detailed for the duty of preparing it, working under the supervision of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff. It was begun in February 1919.

2. The text now published is in its original printed proof form; without correction or amendment.

According to a Minute written by Captain Harper this particular proof differed from the original typescript in the following respects only :

(a) The following appendices were added:

(i) British Commander-in-Chief's Despatch with covering

letter.

(ii) German Commander-in-Chief's first and preliminary report.

(iii) Record of Messages.

(b) Certain telegrams and messages were deleted (owing to the necessity of preserving the secrecy of Codes and Cyphers).

(c) "Certain minor alterations were made in the text.

(d) Certain extracts from the British Commander-in-Chief's Despatch formerly included in the text were deleted owing to the decision to print the Despatch in full as an Appendix.

(e) An Appendix giving a full list of W/T Messages referring to enemy positions was deleted, as these were included in the Record of Messages (a iii).

In addition the following alterations were made in respect of the original set of diagrams:

(f) Eight additional diagrammatic plans were added.

(g) The track of the Battle Cruisers between 6.53 p.m. and 7.25 p.m., 31st May, was altered "as the evidence on this point. contained in Admiralty Records is conflicting." A Note to this effect was added to the Narrative, and also placed on the Charts affected.

3. It must be clearly understood that this is not regarded as an official report. The object of Their Lordships in now authorising publication is to give a clear idea of the limitations of its form and scope, and to dispel the idea that there is any mystery, sensational evidence, or criticism, contained in it. It is nothing more than a record, in chronological sequence, of the movements of the various British Squadrons so far as they could be ascertained from their logs, signal logs, and reports, and it represents the first stage in the preparation of a history of the Battle.

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It was originally taken in hand for the information of the Board and for the Naval Staff, and not for publication, and the question of publication only arose subsequently and incidentally. (See Parliamentary Question and Answer, 19th March 1919.)

4. The original proof of the Record of the Battle of Jutland included ten Appendices. Of these Appendix VIII, containing the Signals made during the Battle, has already been printed (with some additions) in the Battle of Jutland Official Despatches, and is therefore omitted here, owing to its bulk and cost of reproduction. Appendix IX (Commanderin-Chief's Despatch) and Appendix X (Report by Commander-in-Chief of German High Sea Fleet), have also been published in the "Official Despatches" and do not therefore re-appear in the present publication.

The original proof also included eighteen coloured Diagrams. The cost of their production in colour, however, would be prohibitive, and smaller, more convenient diagrams will be found in Sir Julian Corbett's "History of Naval Operations," and in the "Narrative of Jutland." (The diagrams for the original Record, for the Admiralty Narrative, and for Sir Julian Corbett's History, were all prepared by the same hand.)

5. During the preparation of the work information was accumulating from German sources, and it became evident that an account based solely upon British official evidence would be incorrect, and its publication therefore unjustifiable. This new information showed that substantial corrections were necessary in the diagrams.

It was therefore decided to expand the chronological Record into a more connected Narrative that would present the course of the Action as seen from both sides.

Objections were put forward by the Publishers of Sir Julian Corbett's work, however, to the issue of a Narrative closely in advance of Sir Julian Corbett's volume containing his account of the Battle. It was decided, therefore to place the record prepared by Captain Harper and his associates, and all the material in the possession of the Admiralty, at Sir Julian Corbett's disposal, to be published or used as he saw fit, and meanwhile to issue provisionally a collection of the Jutland Despatches and Reports with the Signals made during the Battle. This was issued in 1921, together with an Appendix of the Signals made during the Battle.

6. The whole of the material was subsequently utilised by the Naval Staff in preparing a Narrative of the Battle for the use of the Naval Staff. This Narrative was published officially in 1924.

NOTE. Copies of the original diagrams prepared in connexion with the "Record of the Battle of Jutland" can be seen at the Admiralty on written application to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

ADMIRALTY,

10th May 1927.

OFFICIAL RECORD

OF THE

BATTLE OF JUTLAND

30th May to 1st June 1916.

WITH APPENDICES AND PLANS.

THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE BATTLE

JUTLAND.

PREFACE.

This Record, which gives the detailed proceedings of each British Squadron and Flotilla from the time of leaving the base on 30th May until 1st June 1916, and also the proceedings of the enemy fleet as far as is known, has been compiled from information extracted from reports received at the Admiralty.

All times in this Record are Greenwich Mean Time.

Courses and bearings are given both True and Magnetic.

Table showing Greenwich Mean Time of Sunrise and Sunset at Scapa Flow, Wilhelmshaven, and at IRON DUKE'S position on 30th May, 31st May, and 1st June 1916.