Fourth L.C.S. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland

The Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron had five light cruisers operating in support of the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland:

• Calliope, Commodore 2nd class Charles E. Le Mesurier
• Constance, Captain Cyril Samuel Townsend
• Comus, Captain Alan Geoffrey Hotham
• Caroline, Captain Henry Ralph Crooke
• Royalist, Captain the Honourable Herbert Meade, D.S.O.

On 3 June, 1916, Charles E. Le Mesurier submitted a short "Diary of Proceedings" on the operation of the squadron at the Battle of Jutland.

LETTER OF PROCEEDINGS—FROM COMMODORE, 4TH LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON

Enclosure No. 15 to Submission No. 1415/0022 of 20/8/16
from C.-in-C., Home Fleets.
No. C. 14.
"Calliope," 3rd June 1916
Sir,
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, in the form of a diary, the proceedings of the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron when not actually in station, during the Fleet action of 31st May 1916.
2.	The diary has been compiled from the reports and track charts forwarded by ships of the Squadron.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
C. E. LE MESURIER, Commodore, Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron.
The Commander-in-Chief,
Grand Fleet.
(Enclosure to 4th Light Cruiser Squadron Letter No. C. 14 of 3rd June 1916.)
DIARY OF PROCEEDINGS.
Date, 31st May 1916. All times G.M.T.
P. M .
5.45.	Heavy firing S.S.W.
6.12.	One Enemy Light Cruiser to Southward, on fire and stopped.
6.13.	4th Light Cruiser Squadron turned to East in line ahead. Battle Cruiser Fleet 2' South, steering East, engaging enemy Battle Cruisers on parallel course.
6.20.	One enemy four-funnel Light Cruiser observed to sink.
6.22.	"Queen Mary " blew up.
6.32.	" Invincible " blew up.
6.35.	" Acasta " badly hit, passed through Squadron from Southward.
6.35.	Centre and Rear Divisions of Battle Fleet opened fire.
6.45.	Altered course to close "King George V." division. Received signal for deployment.
7.0-7.15.	Took up action station on "King George V."
7,15.	One enemy Battle Cruiser ( ? " Lützow ") bearing West surrounded by T.B.D.'s steering slowly to N.W.
7.18.	Two enemy Battle Ships " König " class, engaged by " Orion " division, observed heavily on fire.
7.22.	Ordered by Commander-in-Chief to attack enemy destroyers. Latter—a half flotilla—bearing N.W. by N., steering towards head of "King George V." division. Opened fire 8,000-9,000 yards, leading T.B.D. disappeared; one other disabled.
7.25-7.35.	At least six torpedoes observed in Squadron to pass ahead or through the Squadron's track.
7.36.	Enemy destroyers retired, 4th Light Cruiser Squadron resumed station on "King George V."
8.5.	" Castor " and T.B.D.'s turned to West, a smoke screen observed W.N.W.—1st Division, " Calliope ," " Constance ," and " Comus " turned to support " Castor."
8.18.	Opened fire on enemy's destroyers, a half flotilla steering towards rear of Battle Cruiser Fleet in direction S.S.W.
8.24.	Enemy destroyers made smoke cloud and retired on own line.
8.26.	Sighted enemy Battle Fleet N.W., 8,000 yards, " Pommern " class centre, " Kaiser " class rear divisions, course south.
8.28.	Enemy Battleships opened fire on Light Cruisers.
8.30.	" Calliope " fired a torpedo at leading ship of " Kaiser " division at 6,500 yards—Light Cruisers retired on "King George V." divisions heavily shelled by three enemy battleships.
8.35.	Enemy ceased firing.
8.38.	An explosion noticed on one " Kaiser " class Battleship.
8.45.	" Calliope " took station on 2nd Battle Squadron. " Constance " and " Comus " proceeded through the line to get ahead of the "King George V."
8.45.	" Caroline " and " Royalist " (ahead of " Castor " and destroyers) who were ahead of "King George V." observed three enemy Battleships—pre-Dreadnoughts N.N.W. closing slowly—leading enemy ship challenged by Searchlight towards "Castor."
9.5-9.10.	" Caroline " fired two torpedoes and " Royalist " fired one torpedo at enemy, mean range 8,000 yards. Enemy opened fire on " Caroline " and " Royalist ," also on " Comus "—rejoining "Caroline." Latter and " Royalist " turned away.
9.14.	Enemy ceased firing.
9.17.	Enemy fired one large star shell.
9.35.	" Calliope " reached head of line, 4th L.C.S. formed astern of her. Squadron closed on "King George V." at 2.0 a.m. 1st June.