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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    HM Submarine E49

    HM Submarine E49

    Source: Copyright Arthur Jordan

    1/1

    Current Location

    The memorial is on a hill at Hamar, overlooking the water of Balta Sound, where the submarine was lost, off the Island of Unst. The memorial is next to Bobby's Bus Shelter., Hamar, near Baltasound, Unst, Unst Ed, Highlands and Islands, ZE2 9TW, Scotland

    OS Grid Reference

    HP 63617 09720

    View location on Google Maps

    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-91617

    To share information or photographs, contact us.

    Type of Memorial
    Board / Plaque / Tablet
    WMR Reference Number
    91617
    Description
    An information board, in the shape of a sail mounted on a stone plinth set in an enclosed paved area overlooking the area in Balta Sound, Unst, Shetland Isles where HM Submarine E49 was lost when she struck a German mine on 12 March 1917. The board bears the names of the 31 submariners who died, as well as information about HM Submarine E49 and the German U-Boat which laid the mine.
    Inscription
    HMS E-49 / (text) / { Lieutenant Reay Parkinson RN [1873 - 1917] / (text) } > { War grave / Three officers and 28 men of the Royal Navy lost their lives with the / sinking of E-49. Their names and ranks are commemorated here. / (31 Names) } > { E class submarines / (text) }
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    31
    Died
    31
    Information shown
    RN vessel, place of sinking, manner of death, date of sinking and death, forename, initial, surname, rank
    Order of names
    Rank, each group listed alphabetically by surname
    Maker(s)
    • Bob Anderson/Hatton, Photographer

    Sponsor Type
    corporate
    Sponsored By
    Unst Partnership; Unst Community Council; Unst Heritage Trust and Shetland Amenity Trust; Coastal Communities Fund;

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    12 March 2017

    Mr Harry Edwards and Lt Robert Orr RN with a contingent of Submariners from HM Naval Base Clyde, (who unveiled the memorial). Antony Beal and Natalie Hughes (two descendants of those who served on board E49). The Lord Lieutenant Bobby Hunter,

    Dedicated

    12 March 2017

    Unst Minister the Reverend David Cooper

    Components

    Board

    Made from: Unknown


    Condition: Good


    Plinth

    Made from: Stone


    Condition: Good


    Report a Concern

    War Memorials Trust Reference Number
    273072

    To report a concern about the condition of this memorial, visit War Memorial Trust.

    Help update these details if the condition is wrongWar Memorials Register Logo
    • Navy News April 2017
    • https://thelochsidepress.com/2017/03/15/new-memorial-in-tribute-to-the-crew-of-hms-e49/ . Accessed 5 August 2021
    • https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2017/03/14/memorial-unveiled-unst-31-submariners-killed-1917 . Accessed 5 August 2021
    • https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/results?war=1&servedIn=Navy&exactDate=12-03-1917&tab=wardead&fq_servedwithliteral=United+Kingdom (Gives full list of names and details of submariners lost in H.M./SM "E49"). Accessed 5 August 2021
    • https://www.submarinersassociation.co.uk/images/SA/Pages/In-Depth_Newsletters/barrowMar17.pdf (The Newsletter "Periscope View" of the Barrow-in-Furness Branch of the Submariners Association, which contains a list of the full names, in order of rank/rating & with Official Numbers, of all 31 crew who lost their lives in E49). Accessed 5 August 2021
    • www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5308905 . Accessed 5 August 2021