WORLD WAR I IRISH SAILORS REMEMBERED AS JUTLAND BATTLE CRUISER, HMS CAROLINE, OPENS TO THE PUBLIC

It has been a poignant and high profile period for the Royal Navy Reserves in Northern Ireland. Tuesday 31st May saw the “Commemoration of the Irish Sailor”, dedicated to all of the sailors from Ireland who served at sea during the First World War. The service was held to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of Jutland and remembered the 358 Irish sailors who died during World War I.

The ceremony took place at Alexandria dock by the now fully refurbished HMS Caroline, which was officially opened by Prince Michael of Kent GCVO.

Also in attendance were Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers, First Minister Arlene Foster and Irish Minister Paul Kehoe. Naval attendees included Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB DL (Chairman of the National Museum Royal Navy), Sir Peter Luff (Chairman, Heritage Lottery Fund), Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock OBE (2nd Sea Lord), Commodore Martin Quinn and Commodore Hugh Tully, head of the Irish Naval Service.

Commodore Martin Quinn of the Royal Navy said it was a “huge day for the maritime community in general”.

“In 1916 of course Ireland wasn’t partitioned so we were all one nation at that point,” he said.

He added, “Many thousands of Irishmen served at sea including the merchant marine, the fishermen. The community involvement with the sea has been huge for 100-odd years and for thousands before that, so this is a massive day for all of us.”

(Pictured above is, from left, Commodore Hugh Tully, Head of the Irish Naval Service and Commodore Martin Quinn, Commander Maritime Reserves.)

HMS Hibernia provided the Royal Guard for the event whilst fellow members of the unit joined up with other seafaring organisations to pay tribute, through various readings and speeches, to over 8,000 people who died in the Battle of Jutland. Naval officers dropped wreaths into the sea whilst descendants of some of the 358 Irish sailors lost in the battle spoke of the courage of their relatives.

The Sea Cadets & Royal Marine Cadets from across Northern Ireland were on hand to welcome guests as they arrived to the site. The cadets dressed in full uniformed stood proudly in the blistering heat and took great pride in seeing the newly refurbished HMS Caroline officially open as a museum.

With a displacement of 3750 tons HMS Caroline, a light battle cruiser, played a key role in the naval battle in the North Sea, protecting the Grand Fleet by firing torpedoes at the German dreadnought Nassau before retreating under fire. In the latter stages of WWI she was used for the launch of both Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force aircraft from a flying platform on her forecastle.

Following the end of the Great War, HMS Caroline was sent to the naval dockyard in Portsmouth but was later moved to Belfast where she would be home to the newly formed Ulster Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Her role as a training vessel was invaluable and would continue until the outbreak of WWII when she became the Royal Navy’s headquarters in Belfast.

After the Second World War HMS Caroline was returned to the Naval Reserve Service. The harsh conditions of Belfast docks took their toll on the ship and in 2009 it was decided that the Royal Naval Reserve unit would be better housed in Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn where it now resides under the designation of HMS Hibernia. HMS Caroline was officially decommissioned in 2011, her ensign being laid up in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.

Fortunately an £11.5 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant was awarded to HMS Caroline in 2013. The ship has now been fully restored and her three decks are open to the public under the auspices of the National Museum. Visitors can experience for themselves what life must have been like onboard for the 300 men who served on her at any one time.

On attending the opening ceremony Commander Ian Allen RNR, Commanding Officer HMS Hibernia and former commanding officer of HMS Caroline said:

‘This is an historic moment. Belfast has been the home of HMS Caroline for over 90 years. Her opening to the public following this intensive restoration will ensure that she remains here for many more years to come. As the former reserve training unit HMS Caroline has a place in the heart of every Royal Naval Reservist in Northern Ireland. 

He added: ‘Having had the privilege of being her former Commanding Officer I can say from experience that the history contained within HMS Caroline, the oldest surviving warship from the Battle of Jutland, is unparalleled.’

While Northern Ireland hosted the Belfast event, across the Water Cadet Petty Officer Gareth Hampton, the Northern Area Navy Board Cadet from Armagh, was ready to greet HRH Princess Anne and many other dignitaries including the Prime Minister, David Cameron at Orkney.

Undaunted by the occasion, the Navy Board Cadet gave a speech to the national commemoration of the Battle of Jutland that had numerous VIPs singing his praises, including the First Minister of Scotland.

POC Gareth Hampton paid a very fitting tribute to Jack Cornwell VC, and gave a very polished performance at the podium. TS John Jerwood the Sea Cadet Power vessel visited Orkney during the commemorations and added a great backdrop to truly remarkable occasion.