"Jutland 1916: 5th Battle Squadron"

Water Colour & Body Colour

Image size: 15 3/4 x 23 inches (40 x 58.5 cm)

Signed, lower left

Framed in our 2 1/2 inch (6.5 cm) wide frame in silver over black

SOLD

31st May 1916, 15.37 GMT - HMS Barham, flying the flag of Rear Admiral Hugh Evan-Thomas and with a wedding garland at her masthead, signals Valiant, Warspite and Malaya:

Flag signal 376

Assume complete readiness for action in every respect

This important painting by Ian Lowe shows the 5th Battle Squadron of Queen Elizabeth class battleships on the afternoon of May 31st 1916, steaming at 23 knots, steering NE in a light breeze from WSW. This is a moment of enormous tension; just over an hour earlier HMS Galatea had sighted the enemy and in just over half an hour the squadron would open fire on Vice Amiral Franz Hipper's 1st Scouting Group of Battlecruisers.

The 5th Battle Squadron was attached temporarily to Vice Admiral Beatty's Battle Cruiser Fleet as they were almost as fast as battlecruisers. Poor communication by Beatty meant that the massive firepower of the 5th Battle Squadron was late in being brought into action but the squadron was heavily engaged throughout the action and inflicted considerable damage on the enemy.

The squadron also suffered damage and Warspite was ordered to return to port.

A note on the wedding garland:

The wedding garland is a Royal Navy tradition, believed to be still practiced. If a member of the ship's company is getting married, a garland is made of greenery and hung between the masts or at the masthead. Ian Lowe heard some years ago that a wedding garland was hung aboard HMS Barham the day before Jutland and that it was decided to keep it at the masthead for luck when she sailed - it was still there during the action.

COMMISSIONING IAN LOWE

At Marine Artists.co.uk one of our main specialities is commissioning great marine and historical paintings forclients and collectorsall over the world

To commission your own painting from Ian Lowe, contact Charles Mayescm@marineartists.co.ukand we will post or email you a free pack of information including our short guides "Commissioning a Painting from Ian Lowe" and "Price Guide and Timescale"

Photographs & images:We make every effort to ensure that our photographs represent the paintings on our site faithfully but viewers must be aware that variations in colour and tone can occur according to the screen on which the image is viewed. Image is strictly artist's copyright - no reproduction without permission.