The largest naval battle of World War I between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet took place over the 31 May and 1 June 1916.

 9,823 men died in an inconclusive battle where no fleet was victorious with both sides claiming victory. The German fleet, however, never put to sea again in WWI.

On 31 May 2016 , the main service for the 100th anniversary was held at St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney, attended by the British prime minister, David Cameron, and the German president, Joachim Gauck, along with Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

The battle involved 250 ships, and about 100,000 men.

For the British Fleet commanded by  Sir John Jellicoe, and Sir David Beatty there were :

• 6,784 killed
• 674 wounded
• 177 captured
• 3 battlecruisers sunk
• 3 armoured cruisers sunk
• 8 destroyers sunk
• (113,300 tons sunk)

For the German High Seas Fleet commanded by  Reinhard Scheer, and Franz Hipper there were :

• 3,039 killed
• 507 wounded
• 1 battlecruiser sunk
• 1 pre-dreadnought battleship sunk
• 4 light cruisers sunk
• 5 torpedo-boats sunk
• (62,300 tons sunk