- Type of Memorial
- Avenue / Tree or grove
- WMR Reference Number
- 100782
- Description
- Tree planted in one of the courtyards of Marlborough Building. Dedication plaque placed next to tree. Plaque has ornate line border and inscription in black. Additional plaque is mounted onto external brick wall near to tree. Plaque has black background with inscription in white lettering. Outline of Royal Navy white ensign and HMS Collingwood badge in white in top right corner. Outline of Maritime Warfare School badge in bottom left corner.
- Inscription
- Plaque next to tree: In Commemoration/ of the Bombing of/ HMS COLLINGWOOD/ 18 June 1943
Plaque on wall: HMS COLLINGWOOD/ WORLD WAR II BOMBING/ Near to this spot during the early hours of 18 June 1943, a bomb/ detonated after being dropped from a German Luftwaffe aircraft onto/ an accommodation hut. The resulting explosion killed 33 of the sailors/ who were asleep within and injured a further 38./ These sailors were all volunteers and had joined the Royal Navy to/ 'Serve their King and Country' during the darkest days of the/ Second World War./ Most of these young men were between the ages of 17 and 18 years/ old. They had been in the service for just a few weeks and were still/ receiving their training./ the sailor's families were initially told that they had died in a munitions/ training accident in order to prevent the event being exploited as enemy/ propaganda. knowledge of this incident only came to be known after/ the war./ Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,/ At the going down of the sun and in the morning,/ We will remember them./ OUR HONOURED DEAD/ (Names)/ LEST WE FORGET