Mar. 26 2024
Source Page: FOI responses published by MOD: week commencing 25 March 2024Found: HMS MERSEY HMS SEVERN HMS TYNE HMS FORTH HMS MEDWAY HMS TRENT HMS TAMAR HMS PROTECTOR HMS ECHO
Jan. 25 2024
Source Page: FOI responses published by MOD: week commencing 22 January 2024 (part 2)Found: HMS DIAMOND Lady Suzie Johns HMS DRAGON Mrs Boissier HMS DEFENDER Lady Massey HMS DUNCAN Lady Marine
Feb. 27 2024
Source Page: FOI responses published by MOD: week commencing 26 February 2024Found: Port HMS Tyne HMS Severn HMS Mersey HMS Forth HM Naval Base Portsmouth HMS Medway HMS Trent HMS
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
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.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
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.
Mentions:
1: Patricia Gibson (SNP - North Ayrshire and Arran) It is a real honour and a fitting tribute to have secured a debate on HMS Dasher, 80 years to the day - Speech Link
2: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) Many families of those who sadly passed away on HMS Dasher still have no clarity to this day. - Speech Link
3: Patricia Gibson (SNP - North Ayrshire and Arran) :“What eventually spelled the end for HMS Dasher ship was its leaking petrol tanks. - Speech Link
4: James Heappey (CON - Wells) I therefore join her in remembering the crew of HMS Dasher. - Speech Link
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
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.