Remembering Jutland: the grandson of a survivor

As the country prepares to mark the centenary of the Battle of Jutland, we speak to the grandson of one of the veterans of the conflict which proved to be the decisive naval battle of the First World War.

Bob Goodman from Plymstock is named after his grandfather who served in the engine room of HMS Gloucester. The ship was sent to the North Sea to take on the Imperial German fleet. His grandfather had to operate in horrendous conditions

Just one of the ships that came under fire during the Battle of Jutland Credit: British Pathé

"If you're in the engine room department, you're down below. You've got no idea what's going on above you.

"You can feel your own guns firing, which in itself must be pretty horrendous, and I think they concentrated on what they needed to do.

"They were there to provide the manoeuvrability for the captain to do what they wanted with their ship.

"It was hard work, hot work and they just battled on."

Bob Goodman may have been working below deck but his 'zeal and dedication' was recognised and he was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Bob Goodman survived, and served again with the Royal Navy in the Second World War, but both sides experienced extensive losses at Jutland.

More than 1,400 men died - just from ships based at Devonport

Bob Goodman, Jutland survivor Credit: Family

Bob Goodman will be honouring his grandfather, and those who died, at a commemoration service on the Orkneys, where the British fleet was based.

It will take place on 31 May 2016, the hundredth anniversary of those terrible losses.