100th Anniversary - Battle of Jutland

To mark the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Jutland and H.M.S. New Zealand's involvement in this naval encounter, I have gathered together some of my postcards on this subject to share with you...

An early postcard of H.M.S. New Zealand. A record of the major actions she faced during the First World War feature in the picture: Heligoland, August 1915; Dogger Bank, January 1915; and Jutland, May 1916. Admiral Jellicoe can be seen on the right of the picture. A short handwritten message on the back reads: "To Mother and Dad, from Will. Wishing you both and all at home a hearty Xmas and a pleasant New Year. Hope you like the card Mother Dear."

 A British made postcard with a brief handwritten message on the back that describes the image seen here; "Piece of armour blown out from X Turret in Jutland Battle."
This 483 kilogram piece of armour plating was blown out of X Turret on H.M.S. New Zealand by a German warship during the Battle of Jutland in May 1916.

The same piece of armour as seen in the black and white postcard above. This was on display at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum in Auckland in 2012.

"P" Turret gun crew on the deck of H.M.S. New Zealand. They hold a sign recording the naval engagements they have been in. This includes the Battle of Jutland. If you look closely there is a sailor holding the ship's mascot 'Pelorus Jack', a brindle bull dog. He is in the row directly above and to the left of the sign. 

H.M.S. New Zealand's flagstaff was damaged by a German shell during the Battle of Jutland. This photographic postcard was produced by 'Muir'. The image appears in my book "Just to let you know I'm still alive - Postcards from New Zealanders during the First World War."

This postcard shows the point of a German 12 inch shell that hit the Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship, H.M.S. Malaya at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. She was struck eight times by enemy shellfire during this battle and over 60 of her crew were killed.

Some Donald McGill light humour...

Some postcard humour from British artist Donald McGill. 

This card was published by Inter-Art Co., Florence House, Barnes, London and is part of the "Comique" Series, no.2184.

The message on the back of this postcard was written by a New Zealand soldier named Archie while at Brocton Camp in England. He has dated the message 14 April 1918 and addressed it to his brothers Harry and Will...

"Dear Harry & Will,
Just a line. I am still in Old Blighty and going strong. We are having rumors of war here occasionally. Expected to go over last week but it was a washout. Am on the Lewis gun stunt now as they are found to be very effective implements, fire six hundred shots a minute and can be used single handed if you have the ammunition. I was talking to a young man from Omata on Friday. He's in the 34th, says he remembers you at the dances. The 34ths have just got out of Isolation and a 150 of them are on the mat this morning for being out late, went to Stafford and couldn't get a bus back. I had to walk myself but got an early start, its about 6 miles. Have just seen that Will was turned down, sine die in the Budget, so you will be alright. Should like to have more news from home. Only get Olga's letters and an odd one.
Wishing you good luck, 
Brother Archie."