Divers Raise White Ensign Over Wreck Of 1st Surface Ship Lost With All Hands In WWII

The White Ensign, the flag of the British Royal Navy, was raised above the remains of the HMS Exmouth for the first time in over eight decades.

The British destroyer, which sank during World War II with all 190 crew members aboard, is about 20 miles off the Scottish coast near Wick.

A team of divers went over 50 meters into the North Sea to conduct a thorough inspection of the site and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

The wreck of the HMS Exmouth was found over 20 years ago, but its deep and isolated location has made it impossible for divers to explore.

Recently, a diving team led by Lieutenant Commander Jen Smith and Rich Walker used the dive boat MV Clasina to document the wreck. Their mission is to preserve naval history and ensure that the sacrifices made during wartime are remembered.

Lieutenant Commander Smith said the wreckage is the ultimate resting place for the 190 sailors who died, with only 18 bodies ever found. She discussed the importance of preserving the wreck so that future generations might visit and respect those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

HMS Exmouth, built in Portsmouth, played a key role in the Mediterranean during the mid-1930s, taking part in operations related to Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia and the Spanish civil war.

When World War II began in September 1939, the destroyer was assigned to escort large warships like HMS Hood and protect key supply convoys.

Tragically, in January 1940, while escorting the steamer Cyprian Prince to Scapa Flow, HMS Exmouth was hit by a torpedo from the German submarine U-22. An another explosion, most likely caused by a magazine detonation, took the lives of everyone on board.

Lieutenant Commander Smith described the wreck’s present condition, saying the bow is almost entirely lost, with only an anchor and cable remaining. The engine room has been seriously damaged, but the stern remains upright.

As an official war grave under UK law, the divers were granted permission by the Ministry of Defence to carry out their dive. They adhered to strict guidelines that restricted any disturbance to the site.

In a moving gesture, a White Ensign was raised over the wreck.

Reference: Royal Navy

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