Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Submariners remember 32 deaths of K13 crew at Faslane memorial Harry Adams 30th January 2023 at 4:38pm


Memorial for the crew of K13 taking place at Faslane
Serving and veteran submariners attended the memorial at HM Naval Base Clyde (Picture: Royal Navy).

Royal Navy submariners past and present have remembered those who lost their lives when the K13 submarine sank in 1917.

The memorial to the crew of K13, which sank during sea trials, took place at Faslane Cemetery, and was the first service since 2020 without Covid-19 restrictions 

The service was attended by serving members of the Royal Navy, West of Scotland Submariners Association and Helensburgh Sea Cadets and was led by Reverend Rob Church, Chaplain of the Submarine Flotilla.

Also in attendance was Commodore Paul Dunn, Commodore of the Submarine Flotilla, and Commander Peter Noblett, Naval Base Executive Officer – who both laid wreaths on behalf of the Navy.

Additionally, the K13's bell was rung 32 times, representing each life lost in the 1917 sinking.

Cdre Dunn said the memorial was "a poignant reminder of the sacrifice previous generations of submariners made and how we must ensure their legacy is never forgotten".

	Memorial for the crew of K13 taking place at Faslane
The K13's bell was rung 32 times, representing each life lost in 1917 (Picture: Royal Navy).

Alongside the ceremony, there was a gathering at Elder Gardens, Govan, where K13 was built and launched in 1916.

A bugle was played by a member of the Royal Marine Band Scotland as wreaths were laid at the memorial to the submarine and its crew by the West of Scotland Submariners Association and representatives from HMNB Clyde.

The steam-propelled submarine sank in the Gareloch in Argyll and Bute on 29 January 1917.

On board were 53 Royal Navy submariners, 14 employees of Govan shipbuilder Fairfield’s, five Admiralty officials, a pilot, and the captain and engineer from sister submarine K14.

Trapped below the icy waters of the Gareloch, it was 57 hours before help arrived – with captain of the vessel, Lieutenant Commander Godfrey Herbert, and K14's captain, Commander Francis Goodhart, making a desperate attempt to escape the vessel to get help.

Memorial for the crew of K13 taking place at Faslane 300122 CREDIT Royal Navy
Commodore Paul Dunn, Commodore of the Submarine Flotilla, and Commander Peter Noblett, Naval Base Executive Officer, laid wreaths on behalf of the Navy (Picture: Royal Navy).

Using the space between the inner and outer hatches as an airlock, the pair escaped but only Herbert made it to the surface alive – Goodhart died after hitting his head during the escape.

An airline was eventually attached to the submarine, bringing her bow to the surface where a hole was cut to allow the survivors to be rescued.

The submarine was later raised from the Gareloch and returned to service as HMS K22.

Andy Knox, former Submarine Service warrant officer and Chair of the West of Scotland Submariners Association, said the K13 memorial weekend is "of great importance" to both serving and veteran submariners.

"It remains imperative that as a community we continue to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country," he said.


BRITISH SUBMARINE HMS K22 (EX HMS K13) UNDER WAY AT SPEED DURING TRIAL IN THE FIRTH OF FORTH.

British submarine HMS K22 (ex HMS K13) under way at speed during trial in the Firth of Forth after repair and refit.

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