HMS Aboukir, HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy to be scrapped.

[Kongo Otto]

Dutch salvage contractors are cutting up the wrecks of three British warships in the North Sea which mark the graves of 1,459 Royal Navy sailors. The cruisers HMS Aboukir, HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy were torpedoed by the German submarine U-9 off the Dutch coast on 22 September 1914.

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/section...ack&issue=1302

http://www.defencemanagement.com/new...y.asp?id=18282

[Osmium Steele]

Wow. Just Wow...

If anyplace deserves consideration as a war grave, or museum site, these certainly do.

[Sailor Steve]

I agree this is a terrible thing, but unfortunately entirely legal. There is a law, but the British government sold any claim they had to invoke that law more than fifty years ago.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I had a gift subscription to Private Eye a couple of years ago, it is perhaps the most eye-opening reading ever! I may have to subscribe again.

[Schroeder]

I wasn't even aware that war graves can be sold away.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

I wasn't even aware that war graves can be sold away.

Everything has a price...

[Jimbuna]

Absolutely disgraceful imo...I wonder if Churchill was aware of what was being agreed to in 1954?

[nikimcbee]

(no disrespect to the Brits) This is one of my favorite U-Boat stories. I can only imagine what it was like to be in the control room of the U-9 Three cruisers!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

(no disrespect to the Brits) This is one of my favorite U-Boat stories. I can only imagine what it was like to be in the control room of the U-9 Three cruisers!

Then you should also imagine what it was like to be the same captain, in the control room of U-29, when that boat was run over and squashed like a bug by 18,000 tons of HMS Dreadnought.

[Jimbuna]

Let us not stray into the realms of insults and name calling please...we are all better than that.

TIA

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Then you should also imagine what it was like to be the same captain, in the control room of U-29, when that boat was run over and squashed like a bug by 18,000 tons of HMS Dreadnought.

Did you hear something? Crunch.
It was over pretty quick I imagine for them.

If I recall, did the Dreadnought hit them midships?

I forgot, U-29's engine had died and they couldn't move.

[Takeda Shingen]

I don't know, my view is that this is not unlike the old practice of 'clearing' graveyards for new use; a common practice up until the 19th Century. It can be considered a desecration, or it can be thought of as forward-looking and utilitarian. Ultimately, it is only the living that squabble about it; the dead don't really care one way or another.

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I don't know, my view is that this is not unlike the old practice of 'clearing' graveyards for new use; a common practice up until the 19th Century. It can be considered a desecration, or it can be thought of as forward-looking and utilitarian. Ultimately, it is only the living that squabble about it; the dead don't really care one way or another.

My point exactly. Provided any human remains are treated with due respect and re-interred with honour, the ships themselves are really so much scrap. Valuable and useful scrap at that.

[August]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I don't know, my view is that this is not unlike the old practice of 'clearing' graveyards for new use; a common practice up until the 19th Century. It can be considered a desecration, or it can be thought of as forward-looking and utilitarian. Ultimately, it is only the living that squabble about it; the dead don't really care one way or another.

Well said.

Reminds me of the Japanese governments effort to clear Truk Lagoon of remains so it can be opened up as a dive resort. They handled it with dignity and reverence. Perhaps the same thing can be accomplished in this case.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I forgot, U-29's engine had died and they couldn't move.

Where did you get that from? Every account I've read says that U-29 was in the process of attacking the fleet when Dreadnought spotted the periscope and ran her over.