Fundraiser to honour HMS Exmouth crew which sank near Wick in 1940 – ‘For those who lost their lives on behalf of our freedom’
The crew of HMS Exmouth which sank off the Wick coastline after being torpedoed by a Nazi sub in 1940 will be commemorated thanks to a RNLI fundraising bid.
Two months ago, a special event was held at Wick Cemetery with a wreath laid down to honour those who perished by members of a dive team surveying the stricken vessel.
The public was invited to Wick’s St Fergus Church to inspect images that the team had collated from its analysis of the shipwreck which lies 20 nautical miles east-south-east of the town and at around 60m of depth. The survey is part of a wider project to raise awareness of the loss and ensure the heritage of this site is preserved.
To honour the memory of the crew of HMS Exmouth, the diving team now aims to have the 190 names added to the new RNLI Shannon-class lifeboat in Exmouth, Devon.
David Ellis, chairman of the HMS Exmouth Association, said: “Following the recent survey work done by the dive team and their engagement with the local community they wanted to get more 'involved'.
“Therefore, they are raising funds so that all 190 crew members names will be applied to the RNLI Lifeboat that operates out of the Devon town of Exmouth.”
Mr Ellis adds that the fundraiser has reached almost 20 per cent of the target on the JustGiving platform and stands at £1812 of the £9500 target.
“As you can imagine, we as an association, would like to lend our full support. As well as individual members donating, as the chairman I will be writing to a number of personalities and organisations who we may have interacted with these past 20 years.
“Interestingly, one 'new' avenue I will be approaching is the NAAFI Head Office as, it’s a little known fact that, the civilian canteen manager was one of those lost and his name is included amongst the other crew members on the plaque in Wick St Fergus church.”
He says that a copy of the John O’Groat Journal article which highlighted the visit of the dive team to Wick will be sent out as it “tells the story perfectly of the current survey initiative”.
For those wishing to donate to the fundraiser appeal to honour the crew please visit: www.justgiving.com/page/hms-exmouth
Finally, Mr Ellis wished to pay a debt of gratitude to one anonymous donor who said: “This is a special idea to remember those who lost their lives on behalf of our freedom. How fitting that this beautiful cause will go towards helping save lives at sea.”
