Out of the cold and foggy night came the British ship the Hood
And evry British seaman, he knew and understood
They had to sink the Bismark, the terror of the sea
Stop those guns as big as steers and those shells as big as trees
We'll find that German battleship thats makin' such a fuss
We gotta sink the Bismark 'cause the world depends on us
Hit the decks a-runnin' boys and spin those guns around
When we find the Bismark we gotta cut her down
The Hood found the Bismark and on that fatal day
The Bismark started firin' fifteen miles away
We gotta sink the Bismark was the battle sound
But when the smoke had cleared away
The mighty Hood went down

Important historical retrival, or desecration of a war grave ?

Important historical retrival, or desecration of a war grave ?

Just to be clear about this: the voyage of recovery was undertaken with the full support of 'Hood' relatives, the HMS 'Hood' Association, and before he died, Ted Briggs, the last of the 3 who survived the sinking. The Ministry of Defence also licensed the expedition, of course, as the site is indeed a war grave. Bluewater Recoveries, the experts who undertook the actual search, went to great lengths to ensure that respect was paid to the memories of those who died and their families. The Search Director has the letters and paperwork to prove all of this. Accordingly, any suggestion that this was not undertaken with the proper consent, care and sensitivity is 100% wrong. Rob White, Vice President, HMS 'Hood' Association.

Destruction of a war grave. People who do this are basically no better than the metal thieves that are currently pillaging the Repulse and Prince of Wales with impunity and just because you`re going to display the bell doesn`t mean your intent is any better, just different.

One desecrates for money, one desecrates for glory and both are wrong.

I'm not sure, myself.

Would you be interested for an example, in having the bell from Athabaskan (1) recovered if it were to become part of a major War memorial in Ottawa? Most Canadians would have no idea about her or the fate or her crew and we do them a disservice by letting her name fade away, along with her rusting remains.

To put it into perspective. How would people feel if Paul Allen and his crowd started diving on the Arizona to recover parts and put them in a "place of honour"?

You mean like this?

First of all, I don't disagree with your point of view. War graves should be left alone

but

Our decendants should be made to remember. People identify with relics. Ringing bells on anniversaries reaches some of them, anyway.

If the Arizona had been sunk mid Pacific,you can be sure that the Americans would have made another arrangement. They built a huge memorial right over the wreck. No need for any relics, there. I'll bet that there are only a few of us, even in this forum that know anything about Athabaskan 1. It was brought to me because my dad roomed with the surviving XO Jack Scott while in university. Scott wasd badly burned and spent the remainder of the East as a POW. He had a short life, after that. Anyway, her wreck is off the coast of France, badly deteriorated and largely forgotten, now.

I'll bet that those dead sailors, had you been able to ask them when they were alive would to a man preferred to be remembered thasn to care about the retrieval of artifacts.

Important historical retrival, or desecration of a war grave ?