Pillaged war graves

SIR – Illegal plundering of sunken Royal Navy warships and disturbance of war graves (report, November 27) show the Government’s feebleness in protecting the remains of those who had been sent to fight on its behalf.

All warship wrecks are owned by the Crown. While the wrecks of HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales lie in the territorial waters of Malaysia – difficult for the UK by itself to protect – wrecks of British warships sunk in the North Sea during the Battle of Jutland are a lot closer to home and are similarly being illegally salvaged.

In most cases, the identities of the salvage companies undertaking these thefts are known, so why are they not being prosecuted?

Cdr Carl Graham RN (retd)

Bishops Waltham, Hampshire