From the April 5, 2011, Guardian.co.uk.
Most historians studying the war dwell on the land action and those huge casualties, but some 44,000 British sailors also lost their lives. About half of their bodies were never recovered and one-fifth died of disease.
George Blackwell, 24, a laundry worker from Winbledon, southwest of London was one of them, meeting his end at the Battle of Jutland, May 31-June 1. The Royal Navy lost over 6,000 men, six cruisers and eight destroyers.
Admiral David Beatty, watching the second cruiser explode and sink within a half hour of the first one, remarked, "There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today."
Stroker First Class Blackwell was deep within his ship, the cruiser HMS Invincible, when it was hit by a German shell, exploded, split in half and sank in ninety seconds, killing all but six. He never had a chance. His body was never recovered, one of 1,026 dying that day.
The only thing his family has to remember him is a black-edged memorial card with words of sympathy and a photo.
More to Come.
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