100125 AB. John Hague Royal Navy HMS Hunter from:Manchester It may be of interest to some people to know that in the last couple of days the Royal Navy has located the fin
resting place of HMS Hunter, sunk in the first battle of Narvik.
I serve onboard HMS Albion at present, and we are conducting a wreath laying ceremony on saturday 8th March 2008
to honour the men who lost thier lives.
The memorial service,consisted on synchronised ceremonies on deck of each ship present and wreath laying over the site of the wreck.
After the ceremony, the ships, HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark, HMS Cornwall, RFA Mounts Bay and NOCGV Andenes, all turned in formation and steamed over the wreck, toasting the crew who perished with a tot of rum poured over the side.
As we sailed away, we signalled back by Morse: "Farewell, we'll meet again."
I'm sure more details will come to light in the near future. Yours aye LMEM "Ned" Kelly
Click here to see some photos of the ceremony
Able Seaman John Hague was a 19-year-old able seaman serving in the shell room below decks. as tehship went down he had no choice but to leap into the icy seas during a blizzard where he trod water until a German ship arrived and picked up survivors.
“I am so pleased and overwhelmed to know that after so many years HMS Hunter has been found and my fellow shipmates have a known resting place. I’m so sorry not to be able to go to the wreath- laying but I will be spending a quiet time at home with my family and thoughts, also my daughter in Cornwall will be laying flowers at sea for me dedicated to my shipmates.”
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