World war losses & treasures

 

Scapa Flow holds the largest concentration of ships from both World Wars and is the resting place for the entire World War 1 German high seas fleet.

 

One of the most interesting items in this display is a tompion crest. This was found in the mud at Portland's Naval Dockyard by a Weymouth diver in 1981. The Royal Oak is a designated war grave and diving is prohibited. It can only be assumed that the tompion was lost overboard whilst the ship visited Portland before the war.

Losses here include HMS Edinburgh. Known as 'Edinburgh Gold' because of her cargo of gold bullion, she was torpedoed in 1942, but was sunk by HMS Destroyer to stop her cargo falling into enemy hands; a replica ingot is on display.

 

 

Other displays include shot and shell cases and bullets dating back to 1600-1700's

 

S.S. Aurania - sunk by a German submarine in 1917; bottles, items of cutlery and silver plated tableware are displayed here.

 

 

RMS Medina once used as a Royal Yacht was torpedoed by a German U-Boat off Start Point in Devon in 1917. In the hold was a valuable personal collection brought from India and belonging to Lord and Lady Carmichael. Included were horse riding accessories, crockery and coins.

The HMS Exeter sank in the Java Sea near Borneo after being torpedoed in 1942.
There are pictures and correspondence from a member of the crew who died on board.