It was one of the biggest naval disasters in British history: the sinking of the HMS Royal Oak by a German U-boat in Orkney on October 14, 1939.
There were 834 men and boys killed during the action, which was one of the first full-scale acts of hostility against the British since the start of the war.
Now the HMS Royal Oak Association has revealed its plans to mark the 80th anniversary of the tragedy, with a series of commemorative events at Scapa Flow and in Kirkwall.
A remembrance service will be held at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall on October 13, followed by a poppy planting ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance in Scapa Harbour. A flower will be displayed for every member of the crew.
This will be followed by a Welcome to Orkney event on the Sunday night, for families of those killed. It will be hosted by Lord Lieutenant of Orkney, Bill Spence.
The event will feature a presentation and a commentary on the images from the Royal Oak 80 project, which has been in progress for several months.
On the anniversary of the October 14 disaster itself, a service will be held at Scapa Harbour, before a boat departs for a remembrance event over the wreck of the lost ship.
This will be marked by 834 red carnations being placed over the site of the wreck which is a designated war grave.
Families will be able to place their own wreaths over the wreck, but they must be bio-degradable – plastic will not be permitted into the water.
For more information, e-mail garethderby@icloud.com
Meanwhile, a special display of objects from the ship and her crew is on show at Orkney Museum in Kirkwall until October 26.
Remembering HMS Royal Oak, 1939-2019 features items from the Scapa Flow Museum in Lyness including the bronze name plate from the ship, which was illegally removed by a diver in the 1970s and presented to Orkney Islands Council by The Admiralty in 1995.
Also on display are a series of medals and personal belongings from victims.
The story of survivors is told too, with a model of drifter Daisy II, which rescued nearly 400 members of Royal Oak’s crew, on show, and the dress worn by Nursing Auxiliary, Ms Sutherland-Graham, who attended survivors.
The exhibition runs until October 26.
