Origins: Jutland (Les Sullivan)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: battle of jutland
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 02:16 PM

Strangely enough, I was remembering this day in a small village in the foothills of the Italian Alps, with a concert which included a Requiem (by John Rutter, not one of the good ones). The village was the first Italian place to see action in WWI, when the German and Austrians came over the mountains.

The concert was delayed in starting (no unusual thing in Italy) by the Priest having to say the Rosary for a person who had died in the parish that day. As a result, our concert became part of the rosary, with the Magnificat (My soul magnifys the Lord) the Priest's blessing and then the Nunc Dimitis (Now let my soul depart in peace). It concluded with the Requiem ~ we couldn't have picked a better programme for that day or that place..... and for the circumstances over which we had no control at all.

It made the entire evening so much more significant and special for all.

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: battle of jutland
From: Mingulay
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 06:40 PM

Wilfried, it matters not what they were called the poor sods were, like the British Tars and Tommies, just fodder for Imperialistic cannon of both sides. Just a month away now and we'll be remembering the events of 1st July 1916 and a little skirmish on the Somme.

I thank you, however, for the information which was new to my ears.

"......they've gone to the bottom at Jutland"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: battle of jutland
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 08:15 PM

Err, evidently the German High Seas Fleet did make a final sortie April 22-25, 1918, in a futile search for a Scaninavian convoy. However, no major forces were engaged and the Germans retreated back to their base.

The High Seas Fleet did not re-emerge from its base until after the surrender of Germany and her allies, and then only to be escourted to Scapa Flow, where much of the fleet remains today on the bottom.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: Jutland (Les Sullivan)
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 20 Apr 20 - 06:57 AM

Interesting stuff, and over the past couple of years some interesting things have been found out. One such thing has been work done by Southampton University relating to the supposed weakness in the design of the Royal Navy's battlecruisers. It has been established that on going into action, to increase their rate of fire flash doors were secured open in the Royal Navy's ships. This was not done in the German ships.

Tank models of both a German battlecruiser [SMS Seydlitz - survived battle badly damaged] and a RN battlecruiser [Queen Mary - blew up and sank] were made and subjected to exactly the same damage as was sustained by Seydlitz. Both vessels were put into exactly the same damage control state [dictates watertight integrity]. Seydlitz was hit 21 times by heavy calibre shells and was also torpedoed. The results of these tests showed that in the same damage control state both ships survived, if anything the Queen Mary being in slightly better state than Seydlitz.

Most accurate lines in any of the songs detailed above belongs to the late Keith A of Hertford's song:

"In the deep magazines the mighty guns ordnance,
Those thousands of shells stacked ready for use,
And up through the bulkheads up hoists to the turrets,
The cordite propellant stretched out like a fuse."

In the earlier battle of the Dogger Bank, Seydlitz received a direct hit on her after turret that almost resulted in a magazine explosion - this near miss was examined by the German Imperial Navy after the battle and drill and procedures were altered throughout the German Fleet.

Subject: ADD: Jutland (Les Sullivan) - German verse
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Apr 20 - 03:27 PM

Blessings Barbara led me to this performance of "Jutland" by Kessler and Perasso, with a German verse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59vpW5TBF80

This wonderful song by Les Sullivan commemorates the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of WW I and one of the largest of all time. About 6000 British sailors and 3000 German sailors lost their lives.

David Kessler and I were leading the Seattle Chanty Sing on 11 November 2016, Veterans Day in the US, and Armistice Day to most of the rest of the world, being the day that WW I ended, so it seemed appropriate do lead this song.

The German verse was added by a friend of a friend about 20 years ago when I lived in San Jose, CA. Unfortunately I've forgotten his name and so can't credit him.

Anyone who has suggestions for improving the German, either by a better text or by improving my pronunciation, is encouraged to send suggestions.

Here's the German text:

Wohin Gehst du mein Siegfried
Wohin Gehst du mein Siegfried
Ich betrete ein Schiff im Wilhemshaven
Ich gehe dort, mein liebschen

Auf das Schiff Lützow, liebschen
Auf das Schiff Lützow, liebschen
Es strozt mit Kanonen, recht segelfertig,
Zum Ehre mit Admiral Scheer

Und woh ist Schiff Lützow, verschollen,
Und woh ist die Ehre, verschollen,
Und dreitausend Seefaher, verloren,
Zum Meeresgrund im Skagerrak.

Subject: RE: Origins: Jutland (Les Sullivan)
From: GUEST,Les Sullivan
Date: 22 Apr 20 - 03:41 AM

Although I wrote the battle of Jutland and own the copyright I am happy for anyone to sing these German verses Johnny Collins told me that a German shanty singer had added some verses in German but I did not hear his name or the verses these may be the same. I was in the Royal Navy and they teach that the Germans technically won the battle but the only time the high seas fleet set sail again was to surrender so we retained control of the north sea. If anyone wants to record this song I would need to be credited with what I have written. I have never refused permission yet, it would be polite to credit the writer of the German verses as well if this can be established and you wish to add or substitute them.