The Royal Oak

This weekend is the 67th anniversary of the sinking of the Royal Navy ship HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow, Orkney. This battleship was anchored in the natural harbour of Scapa Flow, south of the islands' capital, Kirkwall, at the start of World War II.
Scapa Flow was always the base for the Royal Navy in the north of the UK, and in order to prevent U-boats (German submarines) from entering, ships had been scuttled in the entrances to the harbour. In spite of that, one submarine managed to squeeze through. She launched three torpedoes at Royal Oak, and she sank in short order, taking 833 souls with her to the bottom. Another 389 were saved. To this day, the wreck of the Royal Oak still lies where she went down, in 100 feet of water. The site is marked by a small green buoy, which is just visible from shore.

Each year, a wreath is cast in the water to commemorate the many young ratings who died that October night in 1939. This year, this duty was carried out by Simon Weston, veteran of the Falklands War of 1982. He was horrendously burned when the troopship Sir Galahad was hit a few minutes before she was due to disembark troops ashore. The fate of many of the sailors on board the Royal Oak was similar.

I would like to dedicate this entry to those that rest beneath the waters of Scapa Flow. Further information is available from http://www.hmsroyaloak.co.uk/.