Grand Fleet

The Grand Fleet was the British Royal Navy's main naval fleet during the First World War. Its nemesis across the North Sea during the conflict was the German's opposing High Sea Fleet.

Grand Fleet flag officers at the fleet boxing championship, 3 August, 1916. Left to right: Commodore, First Class Lionel Halsey, Vice-Admiral Sir T. H. Martyn Jerram, Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, Rear-Admirals Herbert L. Heath, Hugh Evan-Thomas and William C. M. Nicholson, and Vice-Admirals Sir Charles E. Madden and Sir F. C. Doveton Sturdee.

Jutland

The fleet had the following stray ships attached to it for the battle:

• destroyer Oak Lieutenant-Commander D. Faviell, M.V.O.
• flotilla leader Abdiel, fitted as a minelayer, {CommRN}} B. Curtis
• destroyer Active, Captain P. Withers
• seaplane carrier Campania, Captain O. Schwann (departed too late, recalled)
• kite balloon ship Menelaus, Commander C. W.N. McCulloch (could seemingly not be troubled to raise steam!)

Post-Jutland

Following the conference at Rosyth, on 23 September the Admiralty sent Jellicoe a letter entitled "Considerations as to the Employment of the Grand Fleet in the North Sea."

At the end of the letter direct reference was made to Jellicoe's letter of 30 October, 1914, and Their Lordships' approval of its contents at the time. "Later experience has shown no reason to modify the approval then expressed."

The King and Queen of the Belgians on the Quarter Deck of the fleet flag ship Queen Elizabeth in July, 1918. Left to right: Rear-Admiral Sir William E. Goodenough, Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas, Admiral Sir David R. Beatty, King Albert of Belgium, Vice-Admiral Sir John M. de Robeck, Elizabeth (Queen Consort of the Belgians), Rear-Admirals Sir Richard F. Phillimore and William Nicholson, and Vice-Admiral Osmond de B. Brock.
Photo: Imperial War Museum.

See Also

• High Sea Fleet
• Wikipedia