Double disaster of stricken destroyers
Centenary tribute to 188 sailors lost in snowstorm
IT was one of the worst disasters in British naval history, claiming nearly 200 lives.
Now a century on from the sinking of HMS Opal and HMS Narborough, the people of Orkney are to honour the memory of the dead.
Both vessels were wrecked on Hesta Head, South Ronaldsay, as they headed back to Scapa Flow in a snowstorm on January 12, 1918.
Only one sailor survived while 188 lost their lives.
Most of the bodies were never found but Orcadians and Royal Navy representatives will mark the centenary of the tragedy with a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to the two destroyers in Windwick Bay.
Captain Chris Smith, Royal Navy regional commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: ‘The tragedy that claimed the lives of the crews of HMS Opal and Narborough is a reminder that the sea can be a dangerous place and not just with the threat of enemy action.
‘The link between the Royal Navy and the Orcadians has been a long one and we are once again grateful to see that our collective history is being recognised.’
During the First World War, Orkney was a front-line base for the Royal Navy. Ships such as Opal and Narborough were key to patrolling the waters and hunting for German minelayer ships and submarines.
But tragedy struck when the two destroyers were called back to base for fear of being swamped in the snow storm – which reduced visibility to almost zero and led to both vessels running onto the rocks.
HMS Narborough hit the rocks at such speed that it keeled over, not allowing a single serviceman to escape. HMS Opal broke in two, with some of her crew washed overboard and others trapped below decks.
The sole survivor was Gunner AB William Sissons, who managed to swim ashore and scale a cliff at South Ronaldsay before collapsing due to exhaustion and the freezing conditions. He survived on shellfish and snow until rescued by a trawler after 36 hours.
Many of the dead were lost at sea, but 55 were eventually buried at the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at Lyness on Hoy, overlooking Scapa Flow.
The memorial ceremony will include a speech from local historian Brian Burdge, who will detail the whole story.
Captain Smith added: ‘We will be joining them in solemnly paying tribute to the men who lost their lives during the night of January 12, 1918 and ensuring the names of all 188 men are remembered appropriately.’