On commissioning, "Negro" joined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet. Having only recently been completed, "Negro" did not sail with her Flotilla on 30 May 1916 to take part in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May – 1 June, although in the aftermath of the battle she did help to escort the damaged battleship back to Rosyth. On 18 August 1916, the Grand Fleet sailed in response to a sortie by the German High Seas Fleet. The two fleets failed to meet each other before the Germans withdrew, but as the Grand Fleet was heading for home, the light cruiser was torpedoed twice by the German submarine at 16:52hr. "Negro" along with the destroyers and came to "Falmouth"s aid and after "U-66" was driven off by "Pelican", escorted the damaged cruiser as she slowly made her way towards the Humber estuary. Despite a strong destroyer escort, which grew to nine destroyers, "Falmouth" was struck by two more torpedoes from at noon on 20 August. "Falmouth" eventually sank at 08:10hr on 21 August near Flamborough Head.