Naval hero's part in epic battle

But a new exhibition of items belonging to a sailor is shedding new light on one of the conflict's biggest naval battles.

Able seaman Bill Bayliss is the grandfather of West Bromwich MP Adrian Bailey, who has donated his relative's uniforms, medals and rare naval documents to a Black Country library.

Items now on display at Tipton Library include his sailor's hat, a full service record and hatbands from the ships on which he served, including HMS Vivid and HMS Conqueror.

Family postcards and birthday cards from Adrian's grandmother to his grandfather and a picture of HMS Orion are also included in the display, alongside four medals including the 1914 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Long Service Medal to the Naval Reserve.

Able seaman Bayliss came from Winchcombe in the Cotswolds and served on nearly 20 ships during his long naval career.

But it was his time on the HMS Orion that would see him facing off against a fleet of 99 German ships in the Battle of Jutland- the largest naval battle of the First World War.

The German fleet hoped that by manoeuvring their ships off the coast of Denmark, they could lure the British and separate them to destroy a large part of the fleet.

They hoped to break the British blockade in the North Sea, while Britain hoped to smash the German Navy with a head-on assault.

During the battle, the dreadnought HMS Orion fired more than 50 shells from its main guns, scoring four hits on the German battleship the SMS Lützow.

This helped sink the ship, which earlier in the battle had damaged the battlecruiser HMS Lion- one of the flagships of the British fleet.

In total, the British Navy lost 14 ships and more than 6,000 sailors during the battle, while Germany lost 11 ships and 2,551 crew.

Both sides declared the battle a victory, though neither achieved the aims they had set out to complete.

The battle was seen as a turning point in the war as Germany switched their focus from battleship operations to the silent warfare of submarines.

U-boat attacks on British and American shipping has often been given as the region for America's involvement in the conflict that helped bring about a tide of change on the muddy Western front.

MP Mr Bailey said: "My grandfather signed up in 1908 to avoid the poverty of his rural upbringing and was already a serving seaman when the war broke out.

"In some ways he was lucky because he managed to avoid being sent to the trenches of France and Belgium.

"I have been fascinated by this collection which I am delighted has remained in my family and I know it will prove of equal interest to the people of Tipton."

Former auctioneer Mr Bailey saved the collection from being sold off when items belonging to his grandmother Pamela went up for sale at his own auction house.

"I was asked by my family to sell off my grandma's items, but when the sale came up I had someone in the audience bidding for me," said the Labour MP and keen amateur historian.

"Since then the items have sat in my loft, but with the centenary of the First World War coming up I thought that they should be displayed for the public to see."

Following his time in the Navy, Mr Bailey's grandfather returned to his home in the Cotswolds and continued to raise his family but like most people in rural communities, he struggled to find work and spent much of his life unemployed or between jobs.

"The real hero of the story was my grandma, she raised her children during the poverty of the 1920s and 1930s, while he was struggling to get employment," said Mr Bailey.

"She was a tough woman, but we always had fun going round and trying on my grandfather's hats and uniform.

"I don't really remember him, but he taught my grandmother some saucy sailor's songs and the hornpipe dance which she passed on to us."

Bill and Pamela married just 12 days after the Battle of Jutland, while Bill was on shore leave following the battle and they lived together up until his death aged 60 in 1952.

He had continued serving with the naval reserves up until 1933.

Bosses at Tipton Library have welcomed the new items, which they say will be enjoyed by young and old alike.

Robert Hazel, library manager, said: "We already have an extensive First World War collection which demonstrates the hardships of life for the people of Tipton during the First World War.

"All these items are enjoyed by young and old alike, bringing back many memories in some cases.

"I know these additional contributions from Adrian will be greatly welcomed and prove immensely popular and interesting to those who visit and use our library."

The items currently on loan to the library in Unity Walk will remain on display until the end of the summer.

The MP said he hoped the collection would help teach local people and children about other sides of the conflict which this year marks its 100th year.