The Battle of Jutland 1916 - success or failure?
Wendy Shepherd
- Organisation:
- Fordham History Society Essex
- Region:
- Essex
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Hobby
- Fee:
- Paid: £50
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 2nd January 2024
- Tagged:
- 1916 Battle Of Jutland | Royal Navy | Historical Sources
The appalling slaughter on Western Front often dominates the story of the First World War. But without the contribution of Royal Navy & Merchant Fleet, Britain could not have fought at all. The Battle of Jutland - was the largest naval battle of First World War; but was it a success or failure? What were the costs in terms of life and superiority on the High Seas? This talk looks at the build up to the Battle; how the German forces attacked the coastline of Britain. It describes the leaders involved and how the battle unfolded during a period of just 36 hours. We hear about the various ships involved and their fate. How ignored experiences by the British Fleet could have prevented 3 ships from sinking. Also how the value of looking at a range of sources can help our understanding of an historic battle instead of basing a conclusion upon a single source. Also how sources such as the Harper Record revealed the failings of senior officers and the distortions of the early historians. Finally we look at some local individuals who were involved at Jutland and the memorials that were scultped to commemorate the lives of those lost in that short time.
Views: 274 | Enquiries: 0About Wendy Shepherd
I am a retired Primary School Teacher and Assistant Headteacher. I have lived in Fordham Essex since 2012 and was pleasantly surprised that the small village had a History Society; that I immediately joined. I became chairman and organiser of Fordham History Society back in 2017. I have been a family history researcher since 1986 after my father died and my mother came to live with me. An old battered suitcases of family treasures started my interest in family history, although I have always liked history. In Fordham we are fortunate to have an archaeological dig site. My brother is a professional archaeologist and in the past I have worked with him on digs in Norfolk over a period of 10 years. Fordham History Society has a very good archive of documents and over 2000 photographs. From this archive, books have been written by our members. I have written a book about Fordham and WW1 to commemorate the Centenary of WW1 and with the help of Heritage Lottery money I was able to write the book, organise a week long exhibition, write a Scheme of Work for the village Primary School and having researched all our casualties on our war memorial; had ten more missing names added to the memorial. I am now in the process of writing a book about Fordham and WW2 and I am working on other village projects such as a photographic project of all the gravestones in the village churchyard. I have been giving historical talks to groups for eight years. These talks are varied, they include a range of talks relating to family history, photography and parish records, there are military themed talks covering Waterloo, WW1, WW2, Jutland, Raid on Zeebrugge, Women's Land Army and Conscientious Objection (the village school headteacher was an objector) and two that I do in costume; one as a pilgrim and another as a suffragette.
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Wendy Shepherd
- Women’s Land Army – ‘The Land Army fights in the fields!’
- Essex in the Napoleonic Wars
- The Raid on Zeebrugge 23rd April 1918; A Twist in the Dragon's Tail.
- Gravestone Photographic Project
- Tracing your Ancestors using photographs
- Women – your country needs you! The Suffragette Movement (In Costume.)
- Pilgrim Badges – souvenirs of the past (in costume.)
- Smallpox, Triplets and Double Murder - Tales from Parish Records
- Conscientious Objection: A Headteacher's story in WW1
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