The grandson of a British sailor who survived the Battle of Jutland has kept a unique memento of the 100-year-old conflict - a rum tub made from deck splinters of HMS Iron Duke.

Reg Wilkinson, 80, inherited the barrel his grandfatherGeorge Wilkinson had made following the 36-hour First World War battle from May 31 to June 1 in 1916.

There were 100,000 sailors engaged in the action, with one in 10 wounded and more than 8,500 killed in total. Six thousand of the dead were British.

George Wilkinson, a stoker and ship's diver during the battle, visited an opposite number on HMS Iron Duke - Admiral John Jellicoe's flagship - when the fighting ceased.

The warship had suffered damage, notably to its deck, and deck splinters were being burnt for fuel in its boiler.

Mr Wilkinson brought some of the teak splinters back to his ship, where he asked the carpenter to create a rum tub with them.

He carried the rum tub with him throughout his career, which ended when he left the Navy as a chief stoker in July 1921 on full pension.

Following his death, the rum tub was passed to his son - who used it as the base for the family Christmas tree - before being inherited by his grandson.

Mr Wilkinson, a retired police officer from the South Hams in Devon, said: "I'm very proud that I have it, and I'm very proud of the story behind it.

"It's a family treasure as far as I am concerned, and a true family heirloom.

"When I eventually pass away I will pass it on to someone in the family."

George Wilkinson joined the Royal Navy aged 20 on May 5 1898, after working as an agricultural farm hand.

He is believed to have served on HMS Conqueror or HMS Colossus during the Battle of Jutland.

The British Grand Fleet was under the command of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, who became one of the founders of The Royal British Legion after the war.

There was no clear winner in the battle but the Germans never challenged the British Navy in the North Sea again.

British RAF airman Henry Allingham was the last surviving veteran of the battle, dying on July 18 2009 at the age of 113.

Mr Wilkinson, who is widowed with three children and four grandchildren, has kept the 18in wide and 20in deep rum tub for decades.

On the inside of the barrel there is a plaque inscribed: "HMS Iron Duke, Admiral Jellicoe's flagship, Jutland 1916".

"We call it a 'rum tub' because for many years I used it for the rum issue during a Trafalgar night at the local pub," Mr Wilkinson, who retired in 1983, said.

"I issued rum from it and we raised money for various charities, including the Legion.

"Unfortunately interest eventually waned a couple of years ago and the tub now takes pride of place in my sitting room."

Mr Wilkinson has been a member of the Royal British Legion since 1967, having served as a Lance Corporal in the Royal Military Police between 1955 and 1957.

He described being "absolutely fascinated" by the stories his grandfather brought back from Jutland.

"You can't imagine a battle like Jutland ever being staged again," he said.

"When you think of these monster ships miles apart firing these enormous missiles which weighed all of a tonne - it must have been an incredible scene to witness.

"He was down in the bowels of the ship overseeing however many stokers shovelling coal into these huge boilers - you can only imagine the sights and sounds.

"I think he was lucky to escape with his life. It was a bloody battle."

The Royal British Legion is offering free commemorative packs about the Battle of Jutland to commemorate its 100th anniversary.

The packs, known as toolkits, contain everything needed to hold a commemorative event or service, including readings and music, posters, key facts and infographics.

They are available to download from the Legion's website, with similar packs available for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme on July 1.

The Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch KCVO, head of remembrance at the Royal British Legion, said: "As an island nation, so much is owed to the men and women of the Royal Navy and the wider maritime community.

"Their collective sacrifice is as relevant today as ever, but this centenary year we pay special tribute to their service."

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