Town to mark Battle of Jutland

Rathfriland Branch of The Royal British Legion (RBL) will be holding a service to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland on Tuesday 31st May.
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The Battle of Jutland is considered to be the only major naval battle of World War One. Over 6000 British lives were lost.

Jutland witnessed the British Navy losing more men and ships but the verdict of the Battle of Jutland was that the German Navy lost and was never in a position again to put to sea during the war.

The service will begin at 7.30pm after a wreath is laid at 7.20pm and the parade ‘fall in’ in front of the Memorial and is brought to attention.

The Chariman of Rathfriland RBL will give a short historical account of the World War One Battle of Jutland at the beginning of the service.

He will then read the first poem from the Battle of Jutland.

The Ships bell will sound eight times, indicating the “Mourning the Dead” period beginning.

An exhortation will then be given by the Chairman of Rathfriland Branch RBL.

The Last Post will be sounded followed by the Lament.

A two minute silence will then be held followed by Reveille, played by the bugler.

The Chairman will then recite the Kohima Prayer and a wreath will be laid by the OOM.

The Ships bell will again sound eight times, indicating the “Mourning the Dead” period ends.

A second poem from the Battle of Jutland will be ready by a Representative from the Banbridge Branch, Royal Naval Association.

The Chairman of Rathfriland RBL will call on various dignitaries to address those gathered for the service.

The first verse of The National Anthem will finish the service and the parade will fall out.

The Battle of Jutland began because Germany decided the British blockade of Germany has gone too far and 24th and 25th April 1916, the German Navy attacked the coastal towns of Lowestoft and Yarmouth.

Britain saw this movement of such a large force as a provocative move and ordered the Grand Fleet to put to sea.

The British lost more ships than the Germans but the German fleet was never again in a position to challenge the British Navy in the North Sea.