- Type of Memorial
- Board / Plaque / Tablet
- WMR Reference Number
- 57976
- Description
- Plain rectangular bronze plaque mounted onto a plain plinth with forward sloping top. There is an accompanying interpretation board
- Inscription
- Plaque: TO COMMEMORATE THOSE MEMBERS/ OF THE SHIPS' COMPANIES OF/ HIS MAJESTY'S SUBMARINES K4 AND K17/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY/ OFF THE ISLE OF MAY/ ON 31st JANUARY 1918/ ERECTED IN THEIR MEMORY DURING THE SUBMARINE CENTENARY YEAR 2001/
Interpretation Board- The "Battle" of May Island/On the night of January 31st 1918, a disaster took place just/a few miles off Anstruther when the British Grand Fleet left/Rosyth for exercises in the North Sea. With wartime news/restrictions in force, few if any people onshore were aware/of this. At speed and without navigation lights and on radio/silence, the leading column of submarines encountered/two minesweepers also operating without lights and/completely unaware of the Fleet's movements./In the ensuing confusion two submarines, the K4 and/K17, were rammed and sunk with the loss of 108 lives. Four other submarines and a cruiser were severely/damaged. Relatives were merely informed that their/loved ones were lost om active service./They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:/Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,/at the going down of the sun, and in the morning/We will remember them.