WE are fast approaching the 100th anniversary of the First World War's Battle of Jutland.

For most towns and cities in Britain, the most disastrous day of the war was July 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. But for Weymouth, it was May 31, 1916, the Battle of Jutland,

Local historian Greg Schofield has reminded us of the fast approaching anniversary of this great naval battle which resulted in the loss of 20 Weymouth men.

The battle was between the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, against the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer.

It was the largest naval battle and the only full-scale clash of battleships in the war. The German plan was to destroy Britain’s grand fleet to allow merchant shipping to trade crucial war supplies, whilst the British plan was to destroy the German high seas fleet and confine it to port. As Churchill said: "Jellicoe is the only man on either side who could lose the war in an afternoon."

Greg Schofield said: "Although traps were set and sprung by both sides, the confusion of battle and poor signalling led to both sides missing opportunities to achieve outright victory. But, needless to say, both sides claimed victory.

"Fourteen British and eleven German ships were sunk, with great loss of life; 6,784 British and 3,039 Germans.

"The British lost more ships and twice as many sailors, but despite the considerable damage to ships and losses, were ‘steamed up’ and ready to set sail the next morning to continue the battle.

"The Germans were not ready to set sail again for another three months, and in reality the high seas fleet never left port again until November 1918 when it sailed into captivity at the British anchorage of Scapa Flow."

The Weymouth men among the dead on the battle cruiser Invincible, which blew up and sank with the loss of 1,026 crew were: Frank Coop, aged 31, of Monarch House, East Street, Henry Croft, aged 24, of Holly Road, William Hunt, aged 44, of Spa Road, Radipole, Charles Ironside, aged 32, of Franklin Road, John Powell, aged 19, of Glendinning Avenue. He worked in Admiral Hood's office and exchanged leave with another officer, otherwise he would have been home in Weymouth. Also killed were Alexander Richardson, aged 19, of Carlton Road and Frederick Vallance aged 50, of the Burdon Buildings. Just six crew members survived.

On the Queen Mary, a battle cruiser where the forward magazine exploded, all but 20 of the 1,275 crew were lost.

Among the Weymouth dead were Walter Fage, aged 29, of Mitchell Street and Harry Miller, aged 39, of St Thomas Street.

Thanks to Greg for reminding us of this anniversary in which Weymouth lost so much.