Beatty Letter to Jellicoe, 9 June, 1916
Letter
[Holograph]
[Add. MSS. 49008]
Lion
[Rosyth] 9.6.16
My Dear Commander-in-Chief,
My letter by Forbes was very hurried, he was here such a short time, and there were forty thousand things going on that I had little time to write you but the scantiest information. [430] First, I want to offer you my deepest sympathy in being baulked of your great victory, which I felt was assured when you hove in sight.
I can well understand your feeling, and that of the Battle Fleet, to be so near, and miss, is worse than anything. The cursed weather defeats us every time. It must have been tantalising in the extreme. I've no doubt that my smoke spoilt your view to some extent, but I could not get ahead of you faster. I was going top speed and hotly engaged. Poor Robert Arbuthnot put me out of my stride for a moment, but not to matter very greatly. Every time, the weather conditions beat us: 16th December; 24th January (too clear) and now, this time. It is heart breaking for the fine fellows to have waited so patiently, so cheerfully, for so long. And indeed I can well understand your feelings. It was unfortunate that my position did not tally sufficiently accurately, but that was a small matter if the weather had remained clear.
Your sweep South was splendid, and I made certain that we should have them at daylight. I cannot believe now that they got in to NEd of you and feel they must have tried the SW. It was perhaps unfortunate that those who sighted the enemy to the Northward did not make reports. Perhaps they did, but I did not get them, but then our wireless was not very good. It was shot away three times.
I had already started committees on the subject of learning all we can from the action when I got your wire. It ought to be very productive. I have learnt a great deal.
I do hope you are able to come here in the Iron Duke soon. It would do us from top to bottom a great honour to know that we have earned your approbation.
We were sick to death when we returned, and found that we had been defeated, as per Press. I enclose you an ode to the Press on the subject, [not with MS] We are all rather sore, so if you can see your way to coming here, it would do us all no end of good and would be greatly appreciated. We are part of the Grand Fleet and would like to see our Commander-in-Chief.
I am afraid the Report of Proceedings is delayed somewhat. I [431] cannot get all the Reports and without them all it is difficult to construct the correct story.
It seems hard, terribly hard, that after all this weary wait, after losing so many of our best friends after a veritable nightmare of an afternoon, we have been baulked. My heart aches with thinking about it, and that our magnificent Battle Fleet should have been deprived at the 11th hour of their reward. So please come and see us and tell us that we retain your confidence.
yours ever
[Signed] DAVID BEATTY
[PS] The Commodore. Bruce is splendid.
[Note by Jellicoe on a typed copy of above letter]
[Holograph]
[Undated]
It will be seen from the following letter from Sir David Beatty that he too considered that the High Sea Fleet would try to regain their ports by passing to the SW of the Grand Fleet. His signal to me at 3.50 am on June 1st asking permission 'to sweep SW to locate enemy' is confirmatory of the fact.
