In 1902, rising star of the Royal Navy, Captain John Rushworth Jellicoe, married Sir Charles’ middle daughter, Gwen. By 1916 the Captain had become Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet. Both Britain and Germany had large navies, and fully expected these would eventually engage in one huge battle, the result of which would determine the outcome of the First World War. Patriotic Britons thought this would be a second Battle of Trafalgar, with Admiral Jellicoe cast in the role of a second Nelson.
Exactly 100 years ago, on the 31st May 1916, the first shots were fired in this ultimate showdown between two great but rival naval powers, known now as the Battle of Jutland. Visit the official website of the Battle of Jutland, curated by Admiral Jellicoe’s grandson, Nick Jellicoe, and find out who was involved, what really happened, and how this, the only major British naval engagement of WWI, was viewed at the time, and by posterity.
