Video: HMS Royal Oak remembered

October 14, 2017 at 4:46 pm

Royal Oak Remembrance from The Orcadian on Vimeo.

A reading was given by Royal Naval Association Chaplain David Dawson (far right) at Scapa’s Garden of Remembrance this morning. Also pictured are members of the Royal Naval dive team. (photos: The Orcadian/ Andrew Stewart)

Events took place in Orkney today, Saturday, marking the anniversary of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak, on October 14, 1939.

A small crowd gathered at the Garden of Remembrance, at Scapa Beach this morning, where prayers were read and a minute of silence was held.

The passenger vessel Flotta Lass then took a number of people out to the waters where the Royal Navy ship lies, where poppy wreaths were thrown and respects paid by the visiting families of crew members and many others.

The annual memorial events are held in memory of the 834 men and boys who were killed in the early hours of October 14, 1939, after the Royal Oak was torpedoed by the German submarine, U-47.

This year’s events are the first following the death of the last remaining survivor from the Royal Oak, with Arthur Smith, from Ashford in Middlesex, having passed away in December, at the age of 94.