Vandalism at Royal Oak Memorial Garden prompts online fundraiser
Vandalism to a propeller in the HMS Royal Oak Memorial Garden at Scapa at the weekend has been met with widespread disgust in the community, with a fundraising appeal launched to pay to restore the damaged paintwork.
Local tour guide Kinlay Francis said: “One of my best friends and former soldier, Scott Sutherland, shared a picture online of the HMS Royal Oak Memorial Garden propeller that had been vandalised. So I felt compelled to visit and survey the damage myself. All four blades of the propeller have been badly scratched and graffitied. I along with many people in Orkney and worldwide are shocked and angered by the sheer disrespect this has shown.
“834 men and boys were killed when battleship HMS Royal Oak was torpedoed by U47 on the 14th October 1939. For us here in Orkney the ultimate sacrifice these men made, resonates throughout our daily lives.”
On setting up an online fundraiser last night, with the target of £500 – which raised well over half that amount in just 12 hours – including donations from as far away as the USA. Mr Francis added: “I have set this page up to raise funds for the restoration of the memorial garden and propeller, and with the hope that those responsible for this horrendous desecration of our memorial will be found and brought to justice, more so that we can continue to remember the 834 who died for our country during World War Two.
“All monies will be given to the custodians of the memorial and with written instructions, appropriated accordingly.”
He added: “My late grandfathers fought to defend our country at home and on foreign seas and soils. I think it’s vitally important that we respectfully remember our heritage and support its memory.”
He said that he had been in touch with Orkney Islands Council, owners of the garden, about arrangements for the restoration work to be undertaken at the site.
He also said that any other money left over would be donated towards the upkeep of the garden and the wooden building which is a place of pilgrimage to those with connections to the battleship and those who lost their lives in the sinking.
News of the vandalism quickly spread on social media on Sunday and into today.
When posted on various Orkney Facebook pages by Mr Francis, many local folk, and those much further afield, reacted with anger and disgust that it had taken place, describing it as shocking. At the same time offers of support to repair the damaged also came forward, prompting the online fundraiser.
Agnes Ratter, area co-ordinator of the HMS Royal Oak Survivors’ Association said this morning she was shocked and angered to see the vandalism.
It appeared that the misspelt word ‘happyness’ was one of the words scrawled on the propeller as well as other words and scratches.
“I can not understand why someone would do this, as there is nothing happy about the sinking of HMS Royal Oak. The paintwork on the propeller has been totally wrecked,” she added.
Mrs Ratter said that she was grateful to Mr Francis for arranging the crowdfunder and to the criminal justice section of Orkney Islands Council who have now arranged to provide the labour to repair the damage.
Local councillor Gwenda Shearer also said that she was shocked and saddened by the fact that someone would vandalise the propeller, given that the HMS Royal Oak tragedy still resonates here in Orkney today, and is such an important part of both Orkney and Naval history.
Kirkwall Police said that anyone with information as to who is responsible for the vandalism can contact them by calling 101.
The online fundraising page can be found at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kinlay-francis
