News and Events

Memorial Annual Service 2016

The Trustees and Staff of the Memorial were honoured by a visit in July 2016 by HRH The Princess Royal who attended the Memorial's Annual Service. The Service was made particularly poignant by the laying up of a battle ensign that had been attached to the wreck of HMS Royal Oak.

HMS Royal Oak, a World War One veteran which had fought at the Battle of Jutland, was sunk by a German U Boat on 14 October 1939 whilst she was at anchor in Scapa Flow, Orkney. Nearly 900 sailors died and the wreck is still a war grave. Every year a new battle ensign is placed on the wreck by Royal Navy divers and the ensign placed the previous year is returned to the members of the Royal Oak Association.

In 2016 the Association graciously allowed the ensign to be laid up in the Memorial. The ensign was laid up by HM's Lord-Lieutenant of Orkney Mr James William Spence and two of the divers who recovered it from the wreck.

Photographs of the Annual Service can be viewed below: