Robert Allan

Died on the 31/05/1916 aboard H.M.S. "Shark" at the Battle of Jutland

Robert died around 7.00pm at the Battle of Jutland in the North Sea. His ship H.M.S. "Shark" (Commander Loftus Jones Royal Navy, awarded posthumous Victoria Cross) hit by 4.1inch shells from light cruiser "Regensburg" and 2nd Torpedo Boats, 3.5in from other destroyers. She was finished by a torpedo from "S-54"; LOST with 86 killed out of 92. A Division of 4th Destroyer Flotilla led by "Shark" counter-attacked German destroyers. Her forecastle was wrecked, forward 4 inch blown away and the gun-crew lost. Then hit on the bridge and steering put out of action. Commander Jones started moving towards the after steering position to find the main engines damaged. Under cruiser fire and wounded, he ordered the boats turned out but these were blown away. Now lying helpless between the two fleets, he joined the midships gun-crew in re-opening fire and damaged German destroyer "V.48". More destroyers closed in to 600 yards, firing heavily. With his leg shot away, Commander Jones ordered the shot-away ensign re-hoisted. "Shark" was now settling and abandon ship ordered as a German destroyer finished her with a torpedo. He was later seen in the sea encouraging survivors, but soon died and was not picked up. Commander Jones body was later washed ashore in Sweden were he was buried. One of the survivors, Able Seaman C. C. Hope related that after the Captain was disabled "The Gaff on which the ensign was flying was shot away and Captain Jones asked what was wrong with the flag, and appeared greatly upset. Then I climbed and unbent the ensign from the gaff. I passed it down to Midshipman Smith Royal Naval Reserve who hoisted it on the yardarm. Commander Jones seemed then to be less worried." A Petty Officer got the wounded Captain onto a life-saving raft but a few hours later he died of exhaustion, to be awarded subsequently a posthumous VC. The six survivors were eventually picked up by the Danish steamer "Vidar". Robert was part of H.M.S. "Shark" from the 21/03/1914 (see photos for Robert's Naval history x 2) and had over 20 years service in the Royal Navy. Many thanks to my friend Dom for 1 of the photos (2) of Robert's name on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. See photos for Robert's Newspaper clippings x 3, H.M.S. "Shark", his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Portsmouth Memorial Panel List, his name on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial x 3, his Royal Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, Robert's Naval History x 2, a Crew List of the 86 men who died and the 6 who survived, Robert's Naval History x 2, his Royal Navy Petty Officers Cap Badge and H.M.S. "Shark".