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.

Daffodil Day, Nelson, 16 September 1916

"Daffodil Day, Nelson, N.Z. The procession in Bridge St." 

A real photographic postcard by Nelson photographer F.N. Jones, 16 September 1916.

The Lady Liverpool Committee gratefully accepted an offer from the Nelson Horticultural Society to use its acclaimed Bulb Show as a means for setting up Daffodil Day. The proceeds of this event were used for Christmas presents for Nelson soldiers at the front. 

The Nelson Evening Mail reported on this momentous local event;

"Daffodil Day.

Our Soldiers' Christmas Gifts.

Glorious Weather.

Great Crowds in the Streets.

The Daffodil Week proceedings as far as the city and Waimeas are concerned, are being concluded to-day, with Daffodil Day. Last year's Daffodil Day, held for the first time, was a great success. The proceeds were for Christmas gifts for Nelson soldiers, and this year the funds go to the same purpose. Last year's function was on a modest scale compared with the present effort, and the proceeds will amount to a very considerable sum. A Flower Queen election, in which town and country candidates competed, added greatly to the interest. The result of the election was not to be disclosed till late in the afternoon, but it is safe to say that the contest has raised several hundred pounds.

The proceedings today are being held in the most glorious weather. Certainly it was the finest day of the spring - warm sun, tempered with a gentle sea breeze. It is a coincidence that Mr D.C. Bate, the Dominion Meteorologist, was spending today in Nelson, and as he would have come in for some blame had the weather proved unfavourable, it is only fair that he should receive some credit for such a beautiful day eventuating!

From an early hour the streets were busy with stallholders getting their stalls decorated  and furnished and people bringing in flowers, etc. Very effective decorations have been made at some of the stalls, and these, with strings of flags across the roadway, have given Trafalgar street a picturesque appearance. There are stalls for the sale of various cut flowers, ferns, plants and seedlings, buttonholes, sweets and produce. Great quantities of flowers have been sent in from the city, Waimeas, and Motueka side, and these were attractively arranged. Business was "good" during the morning, but the afternoon was being looked to for the busiest time..."