David Cameron, Nicola Sturgeon and Princess Anne have joined descendants of those who fought at the battle of Jutland for a centenary service to remember the thousands who died in the largest naval battle of the first world war.
British and German military bands played and crowds lined the street as the British prime minister arrived at St Magnus Cathedral on Orkney, with Scotland’s first minister.
It is 100 years to the day since British and German ships engaged in a 36-hour conflict off the coast of Denmark, that led to devastating losses and changed the course of the war.
Anne represented the royal family at the memorial after the Duke of Edinburgh cancelled his trip on doctor’s advice. She was accompanied by husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as vice-chairman of the Commonwealth war graves commission. The German president, Joachim Gauck, was also in attendance.
Guests, naval officers and descendants passed a display of thousands of ceramic poppies installed in tribute to the war as they arrived at the UK’s most northerly cathedral, in Kirkwall, which is hosting the ceremony because of the area’s links with the battle through the Scapa Flow base naval base.
A second service will be held later at Lyness cemetery on the island of Hoy – the final resting place for more than 450 service personnel who died in the war, including sailors killed at Jutland.
The cemetery stands close to Scapa Flow, from where the British grand fleet set out for the Jutland Bank to repel German forces attempting to break a British blockade. Almost 250 ships took part, creating a scale of battle that has not been seen since.
Both nations claimed victory: Germany because of the 6,094 British deaths compared to the 2,551 men it lost; Britain because it had seriously weakened the enemy’s naval capability.
There will also be a remembrance service at sea, where British and German naval representatives will scatter poppies and forget-me-nots – the German flower of remembrance – into the North Sea at Jutland Bank.
A message from the Duke of Edinburgh was carried in the order of service for the commemorations. Prince Philip said: “There was, understandably, public disappointment with the result, but there is no doubt it was fought with the highest courage and determination under the most difficult and challenging circumstances.
“Whatever the judgment on the outcome, the commemoration of the centenary of the battle is focused on the endurance and gallantry of all those who took part, on both sides, and particularly on those who lost their lives.
“War may be senseless and the battle of Jutland may have been inconclusive, but there can be no doubt that their sacrifice was not in vain.”
Cameron, who gave a reading during the service, said in the order of service that it was a reminder that the first world war was not only fought in trenches.
He said: “The strategic importance of Scapa Flow cannot be overstated and it is therefore highly symbolic that today the stark and striking beauty of the Orkney Islands provides the backdrop to our commemorations.”
He added: “It is very moving that we are joined today by the descendants of some of those who served at sea during the war. They have their own special reasons for wanting to be a part of today’s commemorations.
“We stand together with them to pay our profound respects to their ancestors and to ensure that the events of 100 years ago will be remembered and understood in 100 years’ time.”
