Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2023 to Question 187400 on HMS Dasher, if his Department will provide support for the search for grave sites of those servicemen lost in HMS Dasher in 1943 on land, who were not included in official records.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

HMS DASHER tragically sank in March 1943 following an explosion onboard where no enemy action was involved. All those lost on HMS DASHER are commemorated either on a headstone marking their grave, or on a memorial to the missing.

The wreck of HMS DASHER is the last known resting place for 356 servicemen and, in line with Government policy to let war casualties lie undisturbed, the wreck is designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986; this means the site can only be accessed under a licence granted by the Secretary of State for Defence.

In response to concerns that some casualties from this tragedy were buried on land, there has been two surveys. Neither survey has found any evidence of casualties buried on land and there is no intention to conduct further surveys until such time as further evidence is provided.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June too Question 187400 on HMS Dasher, if he will support the search for grave sites on land of those lost in HMS Dasher in 1943 which are not included in official records.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

HMS DASHER tragically sank in March 1943 following an explosion onboard where no enemy action was involved. All those lost on HMS DASHER are commemorated either on a headstone marking their grave, or on a memorial to the missing.

The wreck of HMS DASHER is the last known resting place for 356 servicemen and, in line with Government policy to let war casualties lie undisturbed, the wreck is designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986; this means the site can only be accessed under a licence granted by the Secretary of State for Defence.

In response to concerns that some casualties from this tragedy were buried on land, there has been two surveys. Neither survey has found any evidence of casualties buried on land and there is no intention to conduct further surveys until such time as further evidence is provided.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will support the search for grave sites of those lost in HMS Dasher in 1943.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

HMS DASHER tragically sank in March 1943 following an explosion onboard where no enemy action was involved. Records show that 23 servicemen are buried in marked graves at the following locations, Ardrossan Cemetery (13), Greenock Cemetery (seven), Frizington Roman Catholic Cemetery (one), Mearns Cemetery (one) and at Paisley (Hawkhead) Cemetery (one).

It is Government policy that, where a wreck of a ship is the final resting place for our Service men and women, they should be allowed to lie undisturbed. As DASHER is the last known resting place for 356 Servicemen, the wreck is designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986; this means the site can only be accessed under a licence granted by the Secretary of State for Defence. The lives of those lost are commemorated on war memorials around the country.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the last aircraft carrier was lost by the Royal Navy; and whether she had her airwing embarked.

Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)

Chronologically the last aircraft carrier lost by the Royal Navy was the Escort Carrier HMS DASHER which sank as a result of an internal explosion in the Clyde on 27 March 1943.

The aircraft embarked were Sea Hurricanes from 891 Naval Air Squadron and Swordfish from 816 Naval Air Squadron.

Found: Lead Member: Robin Millar Answering Member: James Heappey (MoD) 27 March 2023 730 cc802 -8 HMS Dasher

100th anniversary of Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland

80th anniversary of HMS Dasher's sinking

Found: Band RFA TIDESPRING Ladv Bovee RFA TIDERACE Mrs Anita Lister RFA TIDESURGE Mrs Joanna Woodcock HMS DASHER

Found: Raider HM Naval Base Clyde Gibraltar Patrol Boat Squadron Ships In Class Base Port HMS Pursuer HMS Dasher

Found: Band RFA TIDESPRING Lady Boyce RFA TIDERACE Mrs Anita Lister RFA TIDESURGE Mrs Joanna Woodcock HMS DASHER

Found: Dungeness, Dover, Hastings and Ramsgate; Royal Navy ships HMS Severn , HMS Trumpeter , HMS Blazer , HMS Dasher