Peaceful Memorial

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Published: 05 June 2006

Peaceful Memorial

Ninety years on from the most significant Naval battle of World War One, Veterans' Minister Tom Watson has announced new protection for the 14 British wrecks sunk in the Battle of Jutland.

31 May 1916 saw the British Grand Fleet under Admirals Jellicoe and Beatty clash with the German Navy off the coast of Jutland, mainland Denmark, as they fought for supremacy of the North Sea.

The cost to both sides was sizeable. As well as the British ships lost, 11 German warships were sunk and thousands of men killed as the battle raged.

The two Navies are now close allies and regularly work together as members of NATO and last week the British destroyer HMS EDINBURGH and German Frigate FGS HESSEN met at the site of the battle for a short service of commemoration and to lay wreaths in memory of the sailors lost by both sides.

Mr Watson said:

"The Battle of Jutland was the most significant Naval battle of World War One and thousands of sailors, both British and German, paid the ultimate cost for defending their country.

Therefore I am delighted to announce today that we will be offering additional protection against disturbance and desecration to the British wrecks lost in the North Sea 90 years ago.

Under the Protection of Military Remains Act we will designate the fourteen British wrecks as protected places, which equates to a "look but don't touch or enter" regime for sea users.

This will preserve the final resting place of those who gave their lives so bravely to defend their country."

Speaking before the ceremony Commander Scott Verney, commanding HMS Edinburgh, said:

"HMS Edinburgh and her ship's company were honoured to be given this opportunity, in company with FGS Hessen, to commemorate those lost on both sides in the Battle of Jutland on this important 90th anniversary”.

The Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA) 1986 allows MOD to protect from unauthorised interference the remains of aircraft and vessels that were in military service when lost; such remains may be designated either as controlled sites or as protected places.

The former designation is considerably more restrictive in its application than the latter.

Military aircraft remains are automatically designated under the Act as protected places; wrecked ships on the other hand require to be individually designated as either controlled sites or protected places.

Shipwrecks are eligible for designation if they lie in UK or international waters.

In UK waters any military aircraft or vessel of any nationality may be designated but only aircraft or vessels belonging to the United Kingdom may be designated in international waters.

It is proposed to designate the remains of the British ships lost at Jutland - which lie in international waters off Denmark - as protected places under PMRA. The wrecks are popular destinations for recreational wreck divers operating from the continent.

Whilst the provisions associated with designation under PMRA will apply only to British citizens or subjects, and/or British registered vessels, the government believe that designation will send a clear signal that they wish to encourage a "look but don't touch or enter" regime on these wrecks, which quite apart from the sacrifice that they represent are of historical importance.

The designations will come into force later this year, once the necessary statutory instrument has been drawn up.

British losses in the Battle of Jutland:

Battlecruisers
HMS INVINCIBLE
HMS INDEFATIGABLE
HMS QUEEN MARY

Cruisers
HMS WARRIOR
HMS DEFENCE
HMS BLACK PRINCE

Destroyers
HMS TIPPERARY
HMS ARDENT
HMS FORTUNE
HMS SPARROWHAWK
HMS SHARK
HMS TURBULENT
HMS NESTOR

German losses:

Battlecruiser:
Lutzow

Pre-dreadnought:
Pommern

Lightcruisers:
Frauenlob
Elbing
Rostock
Wiesbaden

(Heavy Torpedo Boats) Destroyers:

V48
S35
V27
V4
V29

Further information