Together with her sistership H.M.S. Phaeton, this watercolour illustrates the role played by Galatea in the downing of Zeppelin L 7, on 4th May 1916.

At the battle of Jutland, she was the flagship of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron under Commodore E.S. Alexander-Sinclair and was the first ship to report the presence of German ships, triggering the battle. Early on in the action H.M.S. Galatea was hit by a 6" inch high explosive from the German light cruiser S.M.S. Elbing, but no explosion occurred. The battle of Jutland was the last occasion on which two great battle fleets engaged each other in full strength. Rather than being a single decisive battle however, it was, in fact, a series of smaller engagements spread over many hours during which the two fleets seperated into their constituent parts. Although the opening salvoes were fired at about 3pm. on the afternoon of 31st May 1916, the main action began at about 6pm. that evening and continued until the following day.