The
National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) has announced its
major contributions to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of
Jutland for 2016, highlighting the pivotal role played by the Royal
Navy.
This follows the Government’s plans to mark the milestone which were released earlier this week.
Commemorative
events for Jutland 2016 start in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with the
formal opening, on May 24th, of a blockbuster
exhibition “36
hours: Jutland 1916, The Battle That Won The War.” As well as being a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring together material from across
the UK and Germany, the exhibition is linked to the other significant
NMRN launch in
2016, namely the opening of HMS Caroline in Belfast.
HMS
Caroline is the last survivor of the battle and following the receipt
of the largest Heritage Lottery Fund grant awarded in Northern Ireland,
the ship is being transformed into
a world class heritage visitor attraction in time for the national centenary commemorations of the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 2016.
Head
of Heritage Development at the NMRN, Nick Hewitt, said: “The Battle of
Jutland is the Royal Navy’s defining moment in The Great War, and
perhaps the largest sea battle in history. It’s the only event in the
national First World War
centenary programme which is wholly naval in character, and at the NMRN
we’ve pulled out all the stops to put together a comprehensive and
exciting programme of activity to mark it. As a naval historian, it’s a
great privilege to be involved in a once-in-a-lifetime
event like this, and I’m absolutely sure our visitors will be as
engaged by this epic, tragic story as we are.”
Director
General of the NMRN, Professor Dominic Tweddle, said: “We are delighted
to be working in partnership with the Department of Culture, Media and
Sport.
One hundred
years after the fleets of the Imperial German and Royal Navies fought
the defining naval battle of the First World War it is essential that we
mark and commemorate the incredible sacrifice made. Our Great War at
Sea 1914-1918
programme of exhibitions and events is succeeding in demonstrating that
the First World War was also fought at sea around the world and that
our Naval supremacy ensured that the war was won.”
Director
of Visitor Experience at the NMRN, John Rawlinson, said: “The story of
the Battle of Jutland is a dramatic one which few know about. However it
was the battle that won the war. Whilst debate rages as to who was
the decisive victor, one thing is sure, it changed the course of the
First World War and ultimately led to the British defeating the
Germans.”
The
NMRN is working in partnership with the Imperial War Museum for the
exhibition. This, with the opening of HMS Caroline, will make a massive
contribution to visitors’ understanding about the battle; the
personalities
involved, the men who served and the impact it had on a war-torn
Britain. The story will be told in real time and draw upon the latest
exhibition design to engage and stimulate visitors of all ages. Anyone
who visits is sure to be inspired, but most importantly
we will ensure that all those who served and died in the battle will
remain in the forefront of people’s minds in the centenary year.
More information from
Lewis Brown on 02392
894558
(lewis.brown@nmrn.org.uk)
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