Soldier Record

On HMS Yarmouth (3rd Light Cruiser Squadron, Battle Cruiser Fleet), Keith Leslie Philips served on the forward magazine as a Royal Naval 3rd Class Steward. In the letter shown here, Keith Philips recalls life on the seas and a vicious naval engagement - the Battle of Jutland, 31st May 1916. Judging by Keith Philips' account, the infamous sinking of the HMS Invincible was occasioned by a wide-shot from a German cruiser, meant for his own boat, HMS Yarmouth.

men and boys and hammocks and all manner of things flying in the air hundreds of feet high

Letter

8th June 1916

[...] I do not like it on this ship at all. The chef is a bullying man and I cannot seem to do anything right. Sometimes he won't give me my meals - today I have had no breakfast or dinner and I am pretty hungry now, but still I will make up for it as soon as I get the chance. Do not send me anything in the food line as it seems a waste of money and I can buy most things what I want from the canteen. I am at Rosyth in Scotland about 12 miles from Edinburgh and have been to sea twice. The first trip we went out on Tuesday with the whole of Beatty's fleet and Wednesday afternoon we sighted the German fleet. They had some big ships and made some very good firing at us. There are only three of Beatty's battle cruisers that were not hit - all the other lot are in dock now. We were in the thick of it, as the other light cruisers of one squadron sheered off in the dusk and an order came that we were to close in on the line well. As there was only us left we had a hot time of it. We gave battle to two German battle cruisers and it is believed that we sunk one. There were shells flying all round us and it is marvellous that we did not get hit. One of the German battle cruisers that we were firing at fired a shell at us which went a bit wide - right over our funnel and sunk the 'Invincible' one of our battle cruisers. The shell must have hit the magazine because she blew clean in half and all you could see was her stern and bow peeping above the water and there were men and boys and hammocks and all manner of things flying in the air hundreds of feet high. Out of about thirty ships there were only six that were not hit. We were one. After the battle we came in on Thursday morning to coal up. At four o'clock we went out again to go over the same ground and keep look out for wrecks and survivors. We did not find any but very near found a mine coming home. She just managed to slow round in time or we should have copped it - only missed it by about 10yards. We fired at it afterwards and sank it. We came into harbour again on Monday about 12 o'clock mid-day and have been here ever since. I saw the Captain this morning to ask him if I could go back to barracks but he would not let me - rotten luck. I got paid Tuesday - they gave me fourteen shillings. I do not know where it has all come from but still I stick to it. I am enclosing ten shillings which I will ask you to give to Mum to mind for me. Will you tell Mum that the boots she sent me are too small but the shoes fit me alright. Don't forget to see that Mum goes to Aspley Guise for her holiday and that she does not mope about indoors. The worst of this ship is there is no accommodation. We are like sardines in a tin [...]. When we are at sea you cannot go on the fos'cle or quarter deck or you will get washed overboard and they will not stop for you. I was not sea sick although I felt pretty bad - neuralgia made it worse. Miss Calow wrote to me. I don't know her but I suppose I must reply. I have got a lot of letters to write so will you tell them that they will all get their letters in time.

Trusting that you are keeping your inside well lined.

My love to Mum and all,

I remain Keith.

Published by the BBC with permission from the Imperial War Museum. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders. The IWM would be grateful for any information leading to copyright holders whose details are not currently known.