Memorial

HMS Royal Oak 85th Anniversary

HMS Royal Oak Association's 85th anniversary memorial at sunset with HMS Warrior behind it.

Source: HB Baron-Clark 2025

1/4

Current Location

Outside the Historic Dockyard entrance next to the Mudlarkers Memorial , The Hard , Portsea, Portsmouth , Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3LJ, England

OS Grid Reference

SU 63008 00271

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Names listed on this memorial

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Memorial Details

Type of Memorial: Obelisk
WMR Reference Number: 111033
Description: A miniature obelisk commemorating the 85th anniversary of the loss of HMS Royal Oak.
Inscription: [Side 1:] TO THE GLORY/ OF GOD/ AND IN/ REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE 835 MEN/ AND BOYS FROM/ THE CREW OF/ HMS ROYAL OAK/ WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE/ FIGHT FOR PEACE/ AND FREEDOM./ HMS ROYAL OAK/ WAS LOST IN/ SCAPA FLOW/ ON 14TH OCTOBER/ 1939/ AS A RESULT OF/ ENEMY ACTION./ THIS MEMORIAL/ WAS ERECTED IN 2024/ BY THE/ HMS ROYAL OAK/ ASSOCIATION/ WITH THE SUPPORT/ OF PORTSMOUTH/ CITY COUNCIL/ TO COMMEMORATE/ THE 85TH/ ANNIVERSARY/ OF THE LOSS OF/ THE MIGHTY OAK./ HMS ROYAL OAK/ 1916-1939 [Side 2:] THIS MEMORIAL/ WAS UNVEILED ON/ 6TH OCTOBER 2024/ BY SONS AND/ DAUGHTERS/ OF MEN WHO/ LOST THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SINKING OF/ HMS ROYAL OAK. A MEMORIAL/ OF SIMILAR DESIGN/ WAS ERECTED AT/ SCAPA FLOW IN 2010/ BY SURVIVORS,/ FAMILIES/ AND FRIENDS/ OF THE/ HMS ROYAL OAK/ ASSOCIATION./ (Round shield with anchor) [Side 3:] HMS ROYAL OAK/ WAS NAMED AFTER/ THE ENGLISH OAK TREE/ IN BOSCOBEL WOOD/ WITHIN WHICH THE/ FUTURE/ KING CHARLES II/ HID AFTER HIS ESCAPE/ FROM THE BATTLE/ OF WORCESTER/ IN SEPTEMBER 1651/ SCUTUM REGIS/ (THE KINGS SHIELD). SHE WAS A ROYAL,/ SOVEREIGN CLASS/ BATTLESHIP/ LAUNCHED IN 1914/ AND COMMISSIONED/ ON 1 MAY 1916./ SHE SAW COMBAT/ AT THE/ BATTLE OF JUTLAND/ IN 1916/ AS PART OF/ THE GRAND FLEET./ SHE SERVED IN THE/ ATLANTIC, HOME AND/ MEDITERRANEAN FLEETS/ IN PEACETIME. IN 1938/ HMS ROYAL OAK/ WAS MADE/ FLAGSHIP/ OF THE/ SECOND BATTLE SQUADRON/ OF THE HOME FLEET/ BASED IN PORTSMOUTH./(HMS Royal Oak Squadron Badge) [Side 4:] ON 14th OCTOBER 1939,/ HMS ROYAL OAK/ WAS ANCHORED AT/ SCAPA FLOW WHEN/ SHE WAS TORPEDOED/ BY THE GERMAN/ SUBMARINE U-47./ OF HER COMPLEMENT/ OF 1235 MEN AND BOYS,/ 835 LOST THEIR LIVES/ THAT NIGHT OR DIED/ LATER OF THEIR WOUNDS./ THIS MEMORIAL IN/ HMS ROYAL OAK'S/ HOME PORT/ COMMEMORATES/ THEIR ULTIMATE/ SACRIFICE./ THE WRECK/ LIES IN 30 METRES/ OF WATER IN SCAPA/ FLOW AT LOCATION/ 58" 55' N/002"59' W./ IT IS A/ DESIGNATED/ WAR GRAVE./ THE MIGHTY OAK - /OLD BUT FIRM.

War MemorialsRegister

HMS Royal Oak 85th Anniversary

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Commemoration

History

Ceremonies

HMS Royal Oak 85th Anniversary

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Commemoration

History

Ceremonies

Conservation

Components

Further Information