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The Kitchener Memorial

To find out more information on this project, please read our blog:  Link to blog                                                                         

 

In Birsay, the Orkney Mainland’s north-westmost parish, there sits a memorial, inscribed:

"This tower was raised by the people of Orkney in memory of Field Marshal Earl Kitchener of Khartoum on that corner of his country which he had served so faithfully nearest to the place where he died on duty. He and his staff perished along with the officers and nearly all the men of HMS Hampshire on 5 June 1916."

What is not told by this simple and evocative structure is that only 12 men survived the sinking and some 736 other men lost their lives in terrible conditions along with Lord Kitchener, meaning a total loss of life of 737 souls.

Orkney Heritage Society has changed this to better remember those who died.

We restored the Kitchener Memorial to its original condition, and built an arc-shaped HMS Hampshire commemorative wall alongside. The wall is of local stone, inlaid with granite on which the names of all 737 men lost are engraved.

The restored memorial and the commemorative wall were officially unveiled at events to mark the centenary of the loss on 5 June 2016.

 

 

Thank you to the many individuals and organisations who have already helped the Kitchener & HMS Hampshire Memorial project with donations and their time.

These include Orkney Island Council's Community Development Fund, the 71 Engineer Regiment, the US Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, and many more.

 

 

 

 

 

More about the Kitchener Memorial

The Kitchener Memorial sits upon the RSPB's Marwick Head reserve, and offers stunning views across the Atlantic Ocean, towards the Brough of Birsay to the north, and to Hoy to the south. On clear days the stone stack The Old Man of Hoy is clearly visible.

The inscription on the memorial faces away from the sea to prevent erosion from the force of the wind and salt spray, but has recently sustained some damage.

The memorial, a 48-feet high stone tower, was raised in the 1920s and unveiled in 1926 by Lord Horne, an occasion attended by thousands. Remarkably there are two videos of the event:

Pathe News

Scotland on Film

Find the list of those lost at hmshampshire.org

 

New book now on sale:  HMS Hampshire: A Century of Myths and Mysteries Unravelled

Photo credit: Kim Burns
30/05/16 - preparations are well underway for the following day's commemorative event to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland. The majority of the British Home Fleet left from Scapa Flow that day.
The Royal Marines Band practice on the Kirk Green.
Two large screens were set up on Broad Street to accommodate the crowds who were unable to take part in the ceremony inside St Magnus Cathedral.
The Federal German Navy Band play on the Kirk Green on 31st May 2016.
A (very) small selection of the crowds who turned up to pay their respects on the day of 31st May 2016.
Memorial wreaths were laid by the Princess Royal and German President Joachim Gauck. British Prime Minister David Cameron was also present.
The wreath laid by the Princess Royal.
The wreath laid by German President Joachim Gauck
HMS Duncan, tied up at Hatston. She took part in the Battle of Jutland commemorations by sailing out to the battle site and laying poppies and forget me nots on the water - one for every man lost. The German nation does not have the same culture for poppies as the UK, so forget me nots were chosen instead, as they mean the same in German. The Duncan then sailed to Orkney where she was laid open to the public on Friday/Saturday 3 & 4 June.
On board the Duncan, the Operations Room.
The HMS Duncan is the newest ship in the British Naval fleet. This is a photograph of the newest helicopter, which was tied to her deck.
A view from the deck of the Duncan
We were also graced with the presence of the German Naval ship FGS Brandenburg
Sunday 5th June 1916 was the 100th anniversary of the loss of HMS Hampshire, with all but 12 hands. The commemorative event was open to the public, who were met at the bottom of the hill climb to the memorial by the Royal British Legion Stromness Pipe Band.
A more direct route was chosen to the memorial, but it was much, much steeper than the usual route. This is just a very small selection of the people who attended the event.
Only a fraction of the crowds who attended.
Unlike that night 100 years ago, the weather was perfect.
Birsay, Harray & Sandwick's Reverend David McNeish led the service.
The HM Drifter Laurel Crown was lost a few days later in the same mine field which had sunk the HMS Hampshire
During the project it was thought that the memorial had been lined up in direct sight of the loss of the ship, but it was soon discovered to be around 30 degrees off. This photograph is taken with the photographer's back up against the door...
... whilst this one is taken in line with the actual sight line of the wreck.

Crewmembers, HMS Hampshire (Surname, Initial.)
In the event of duplicate names, service numbers can be found at hmshampshire.org

ABURROW, J A. ADAMS, H. ADAMS, W F. ADAMS, W H. ALEXANDER, P G. ALLEN, E A. ALLEN, F H. ALLEN, W B. ALLUM, G A. AMEY, N P. AMEY, W J. AMOS, J J. AMY, W M. ATTWOOD, C E. ATTWOOD, G. AUSTIN, A E. AYLING, C G J. AYTON, G. BAGLEY, J L. BAILEY, C. BAILEY, G. BAILEY, H R. BAILEY, J C. BAINES, S. BAKER, F G. BAKER, P. BALLARD, R G. BANCROFT, I. BANWELL, E J. BARBEARY, C H. ARGEN, T E. BARNARD, J E T. BARNETT, J. BARROW, N. BARTLETT, F H. BARTLETT, G. BARTLETT, G. BARTLETT, V G. BATES, A. BATES, B E. BATES, G. BAULK, A S. BAYNES, G A. BEAN, F F. BEAR, J V. BEARMAN, W J. BECK, G E. BEECHEY, J W H. BEESTON, G S. BELCHAMBER, E. BELL, W A. BENNETT, L S. BENNETT, W H. BENTLEY, F. BEVERLEY, R. BEX, W L. BILLINGHAM, B. BILLINS, W E. BIRTLES, R. BISHOP, G S J. BLACK, R B. BLACKSHAW, G. BLAKE, E A J. BLANDFORD, S T. BLOOR, T. BOBBETT, J J. BOND, G H. BONNICK, H A W. BORAMAN, R J. BORNE, J H. BOSWORTH, M J. BOWEN, G W. BRAGG, J A. BRAIN, W H. BRIDGES, W F. BRINDLEY, J. BRISCOE, J. BROAD, W H. BROCKWAY, A G C. BROWN, R. BROWN, W. BROWNING, H. BUCKENHAM, J T. BUCKINGHAM, R A. BUNTING, T. BURDEN, E. BURFOOT, C N N. BURREN, G P. BURROWS, A. BURTON, J R. BURY, F. BUSBY, W S. BUTLER, F E. BUTLER, G I. BUTLER, R T. BYNG, J. CADBY, W G. CADMAN, C. CAKE, W. CAMERON, W J. CANNON, J A. CARD, W G B. CARTER, C C W A. CARTER, T E. CARVIN, C. CHAMBERS, A H. CHAPLIN, H G. CHARLTON, A C. CHEATER, H J. CHESWORTH, A. CHILD, A E. CHITTY, A. CLARK, W. CLAY, F. CLAYTON, W. CLEARY, F W. COLBECK, P. COLE, F G. COLLECOTT, F G. COLLETT, J W. COLLIER, S. COLLINS, S. COLLIS, W T. COMPTON, A W. CONNELLEY, P. CONSTABLE, L A L. COOGAN, J. COOK, F. COOKE, H N. COOMBS, J R. COOPER, G H. COOPER, W L M. COPE, H. COSSEY, A E. COULTHARD, T. COVEY, J E. COWLEY, G W. COX, H. COX, J. COX, J C. COYLE, J. CROMPTON, E. CROSS, A. CRUSE, P. CULLINGTON, F T. CUMMING, D. CUNNINGHAM, H. CUNNINGHAM, J. DABBS, H. DAGWELL, F. DALLAS, W A E. DANIELS, E. DARBY, W . DASENT, M. DAVEY, E. DAVIS, A. DAWSON, A W A. DAWSON, J B. DE STE CROIX, W B. DEAN, F P. DENHAM, H S. DENNIS, H. DEVESON, P W. DEVLIN, J. DIAMOND, C H. DIAPER, H J. DODD, W. DOHERTY, M. DOHERTY, R. DOMINEY, C J. DONNELLY, G N. DOOLEY, S. DOVE, G W. DOWLAND, S J. DOWNES, J. DOWSON, J. DRUMMOND, F G. DUFF, P. DUFFIN, A J. DUNCAN, A J C. DUNN, L G A. DURRANT, G W. DYER, G. EADES, J. EAST, E R. ECCLESTON, N. EDWARDS, I S R R. ELLISON, V. ELMER, G J. ELSON, R M. EPPS, J F. EVANS, G M. EVANS, J. EVANS, P. EVANS, R. EVANS, W A. EVERETT, W. EWING, W. EYRE, J. FALLOWFIELD, R. FARINDON, A. FARTHING, W T. FEAR, E C. FELLOWES, E E. FELLOWS, B. FERRETT, S J F. FERRETT, T C J. FERRIMAN, G F W. FIELD, G. FIELDING, P. FINCKEN, C A T. FISKEN, P. FITCH, J W N. FITZGERALD, J H. FLACK, F. FLANAGAN, B. FLAVIN, M. FLEMING, J H. FLEMING, M T. FLEXMAN, E F. FONEY, F J. FORREST, G H. FORREST, J. FOSTER, E. FOSTER, J. FOTHERGILL, E. FOWLER, A T. FRASER, C S. FREEMAN, W A. FREEMAN, W C. GALE, H A. GALE, W. GANDER, J. GARDNER, W F. GARRETT, S. GARRETT, W J. GARSDEN, J W V. GEARNS, J C. GEORGE, E C. GERRARD, F E. GIBBS, W J. GIBSON, W. GILDERSLEEVE, H. GILES, H. GISBORN, J F. GLOVER, F. GLOVER, G A. GOBLE, A E. GOMM, C. GOODFELLOW, B. GORDON, J E G. GRACE, W E. GRANT, S A. GREEN, G. GREEN, J J. GREEN, J. GREENAN, J. GREENHILL, B P K. GREENWOOD, B T. GREY, E V. GRINYER, C E. GROOMBRIDGE, V A. GROVES, T P. GROVES, W E. HACKEN, R F. HAGAN, J. HAGAN, J S H. HAINES, A W. HAINSWORTH, H. HAMLIN, C H. HANSELL, A. HARDEN, C. HARDING, J. HARGREAVES, J H. HARMAN, D J. HARPER, A H. HARRIS, L W. HARRIS, S J. HARRISON, E G. HARRISON, J W. HARRISON, T. HART, C G C. HART, G. HARVEY, J R. HARWOOD, T J. HAWKINS, E. HAWKINS, J C. HAWKINS, W. HAYES, H J. HAYLER, J. HAZEL, S. HAZEON, C S. HEAD, G H. HEATH, M. HEDGES, E T. HEGGS, J H. HENEAGE, V. HENNESSAY, J E. HENRY, T W. HENWOOD, D. HESELWOOD, R. HEWITT, F. HICK, H. HIGGINS, F A. HILL, E T. HILL, G H. HILL, J J. HILL, R. HILL, T P. HILLS, H G. HIRTZEL, G H. HISCOCK, J T. HOBBS, F N. HOBSON, M B. HOCKLESS, L H. HODGKINSON, J. HOLBROOK, W. HOLDEN, J. HOLL, G W. HOLLAMBY, F H. HOLLEY, J F. HOLLIS, S. HOLLOWAY, F. HOLTOM, H E. HOOK, F C. HOOKER, B H. HOOKHAM, B. HOPE, C. HORROCKS, A W. HOUGHTON, G. HOWDEN, W H. HOWE, H W. HUDSON, S A. HUGHES, R L. HUMPHREY, A. HUNT, F. HUNTER, E. HUNTER, E F. HUNTER, F A. HUNTER, G M. INNOLES, W F. IRESON, W. ISHERWOOD, F. IVES, J. JAMES, G. JAMIESON, W. JARVIS, B. JARVIS, J E. JEFFRIES, H. JELLEY, T W. JENNINGS, G T M. JENNINGS, H J. JENOURE, A S. JEWITT, L. JOELS, E J. JOHNSTON, J. JOHNSTON, J. JOHNSTONE, L H. JONES, C. JONES, E. JONES, H. JONES, J. JONES, J A. JONES, T. JONES, W G. JORDAN, A H. KANAAR, J A G. KEBBLE, A A. KEEPING, T L. KENDALL, A. KENNEDY, J. KENNY, T. KENWARD, H C. KIMBER, W J. KIRBY, J H. KIRBY, W J. KIRKUP, F. KNIGHT, G H. KNIGHT, H. KNIGHT, J G. KNOWLSON, J W. LACEY, R. LACY, A. LAITY, J H. LAMB, J H. LAMPARD, A E. LAMPITT, J. LARKING, A G. LARKINS, H. LATTER, W T. LATTIMORE, G C. LAWLER, W. LAWLER, W G. LAWRENCE, L J. LEACH, T W. LEADER, L J. LEDGER, A E. LEDWOOD, J W. LEE, W H A. LESLIE, F P. LEWIS, J G. LEWIS, J H. LILLEY, A L. LIND, C N. LIPSCOMBE, C W. LITTLE, R T. LITTLEWOOD, H R. LOCKER, G W. LOVEGROVE, T G. LOWE, J. LOWE, T. LOWE, W C. LOWERY, H. LYFIELD, A G. LYNCH, J. LYNN, A E. MACGREGOR, J D. MALLARD, J A. MALLET, C S B. MALLETT, H F. MANSER, F S J. MARINER, E. MARNER, G A. MARSHALL, A. MARSHALL, F G. MARSHALL, G E. MARTIN, C. MARTIN, G F. MARTIN, R P. MASKELL, J E. MASTERS, B W. MATTHEWS, H. MAXTED, H. MAYHEW, E G. MCADAM, W. CCALL, D. MCDONELL, P. MCFARLANE, R M. MCGARRIGLE, D. MCGARVIE, W C. MCGOWAN, F G. MCGRATH, H. MCINTYRE, A. MCLAUGHLIN, J. MCLOUGHLIN, R J. MCNALLY, H F. MCNEILL, R. MCPHERSON, A J. MEDHURST, C A. MELHUISH, W J. MERRITT, C H. MERWOOD, R. MEW, J. MIDDLETON, R C. MITCHNER, H. MOORE, G W. MOORE, R. MORETON, W A. MORLEY, A. MORPHEW, G A. MORRIS, E O. MORRIS, F S. MORRIS, F A. MORTIEAU, A J. MORTON, A F. MORTON, C E A. MOULD, A C. MUDIE, D B. MULLEN, D. MULLENS, F C. MULVEY, P. MUNTON, A. MUSSON, T. NAYLOR, A G S. NEELD, A W. NEWBEGIN, J. NEWMAN, J. NINEHAM, W E. NOEL, H. NORRINGTON, T E. NORRIS, A C. NORTH, A. NORTH, G. NORTHOVER, S J. NOVICE, J A. NOWLAND, F. NUGENT, M L O. NYE, C W. O'CONNELL, A A. OLIVER, F C. OLIVER, J W. ORMONDE, W A. OUBRIDGE, W B. OULTON, W H. OWEN, N. PAGE, J H. PAMPLIN, J H. PARKER, G H. PARKER, J. PARKHURST, A J. PARKS, W. PARSONS, H. PARSONS, S C. PARSONS, W R. PASHLEY, A E. PATON, D. PATTENDEN, A. PAYNE, A. PAYNE, H. PAYNE, H E. PEARCE, A J J. PELLETT, E A. PENGILLY, P W. PERRY, D. PERRY, P E. PESSELL, P J. PETERS, W R. PETTETT, E. PETTETT, W J. PHILLIPS, A. PIPER, F S. POLLARD, J. PONSFORD, C H. PORTER, A J. POTTER, F. POWELL, J. POWELL, W G. PRAGNELL, G V. PRAGNELL, W. PURNELL, E. QUINTON, W E. RAGLESS, P J. RAMSEY, P R. RANDELL, G. RAWLINS, W E. REDFERN, T H. REED, G E. REED, W. REES, W H. REEVE, G E. REYNOLDS, G. REYNOLDS, P. REYNOLDS, S H. RICHARDS, E. RIGBY, J E. RILEY, E. RIORDAN, T J. ROBERTS, P B. ROBERTSON, J W. ROBERTSON, W H. ROBEY, W C. ROBINSON, A F. ROBINSON, E F H. ROGERS, E J. ROGERS, W. ROGERS, W E. ROSE, R J. ROSSITER, T. ROWELL, W G. ROWLEY, J. RUSSELL, F. RYAN, S. RYAN, W. RYLES, M. SALISBURY, W H. SALOWAY, W L. SANDOM, G C. SAUNDERS, A. SCHEURER, A L. SAVILL, H J. SCRIVEN, T G. SEE, C W. SEMPLE, R. SEXTON, R P A. SEYMOUR, H J. SHAILL, T E. SHANKS, J. SHANKS, J. SHARP, W H. SHARPLES, T H W. SHAW, J P. SHEARMAN, C N. SHEPHERD, F R. SHEPHERD, W. SHERWIN, C E. SHIELDS, W. SHORT, W H. SIDEBOTHAM, W. SILK, E G. SILLS, E E. SIRDIFIELD, J T. SKINNER, W. SKYNNER, W W. SMEDLEY, J H. SMITH, A. SMITH, A. SMITH, A. SMITH, B. SMITH, E. SMITH, G E. SMITH, G S. SMITH, G W. SMITH, H W. SMITH, W. SMITH, W. SNELL, S S. SNOW, V G. SNOWDEN, J N. SOWDEN, W R. SPARKES, S J. SPARROW, W C J J B. SPEDDING, F. SPENCER, E G. SPIERS, O A. SQUIRE, W C. STABLES, G. STAFFORD, W E. STALLARD, G T. STANLEY, S. STARMORE, E S. STEAD, E. STEELE, C T. STEPHENS, S W. STEVENSON, W. STEWART, F G. STEWART, R C. STRINGER, A D. STRINGER, C T. STRINGER, H. STRINGER, J E. SUCKLEY, W V. SUTTON, A L. SWEETZER, H D. TAILBY, G A. TAPPER, S C. TAYLOR, E E. TAYLOR, H d P. TAYLOR, J A. TERRY, P W. THOMPSON, R A. THOMPSON, W. THORNTON, W J. THWAITES, W H. TIDEY, S W. TILBURY, W. TILLING, H C. TINGLEY, J C. TIPPING, E. TIZARD, P L E. TOONE, S. TREFFRY, F C. TRODD, H V. TROTT, J . TRUE, E B. TUCK, C E A. TUCKER, C A E. TUNNICLIFFE, J. TURNER, E J. TURNER, F. TURNER, F H. TWOMEY, L J. VARNDELL, E H. VEALE, M. VERLANDER, G C. VERNON, H F. VINCE, S J H. VIVIAN, R C. WAGSTAFF, A H. WAIGHT, F E. WALDEN, E. WALKER, A. WALKER, A E. WALLER, W J. WALTERS, C C. WATERMAN, W F. WATERMAN, W G. WATERS, H. WATTHEW, F H. WATTS, A G. WATTS, C W. WAUGH, J. WEBB, J H. WELSBY, W. WENHAM, W F J. WEST, C. WHEELER, C W. WHEELER, G B. WHEELER, W A. WHELAN, H A. WHITE, B. WHITE, E. WHITE, F. WHITE, F. WHITE, G V. WHITE, J. WHITE, W E. WHITLOCK, H. WHITNEY, F W. WHITWORTH, J. WICKENS, T J. WICKER, R A. WIGFALL, T B. WIGG, W J. WILDEN, G P. WILKINSON, C W. WILLIAMS, C. WILLIAMS, E H. WILLIAMS, G. WILLIAMS, G W. WILLIAMS, P G. WILLIAMS, W. WILLS, W S. WILSON, A. WILSON, B J. WILSON, W. WITHINGTON, C. WOOD, F. WOOD, J. WOOD, W. WOODGER, J E. WYMER, F L H. YEATES, C H. YOUNG, J G.

Lord Kitchener and the Mission to Russia

BROWN, D C. DONALDSON, H F. ELLERSHAW, W. FIGERLAND, O A G. GURNEY, J W. KITCHENER, H H. MCLOUGHLIN, M. MAPCHERSON, R D. O'BEIRNE, H J. RIX, L C. ROBERTSON, L S. SHIELDS, W. SURGUY, H. WEST, F P.

Survivors, HMS Hampshire

BENNET, W. BOWMAN, J R. BUERDSELL, H L. CASHMAN, W. FARNDEN, W C. PHILLIPS, W C. READ, A E. ROGERSON, C W. SIMPSON, R. SIMS, F L. SWEENEY, S E. WESSON, W.

Crewmembers lost, HM Drifter Laurel Crown

BAKER, T J. COULLL, J. DURRANT, C. MITCHELL, R. MURPHY, A. NICOLSON, M. PETRIE, G. SLATER, R. STEPHENSON, C P.

 

 

.../ HMS Hampshire: a century of myths and mysteries revealed