HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was at the Historic Dockyard Chatham on November 14 2007 to unveil a new memorial to the 11,000 sailors who lost their lives on Royal Navy Destroyers during World War Two.
In the presence of Navy veterans and family members who lost close relatives during the war the Duke unveiled the specially commissioned bronze monument alongside HMS Cavalier, a World War Two Destroyer moored in a dry dock at the historic dockyard.
The unveiling was then followed by a moving service of dedication during which HMS Cavalier was dedicated as the National Destroyer Memorial to the 142 Royal Navy destroyers sunk during the Second World War and the men who lost their lives as a result.
“We are delighted that not only HRH The Duke of Edinburgh attended to unveil the monument today, but also that nearly 400 guests who lost close relatives serving, or served themselves, in destroyers during the Second World War, were amongst the 900 attending,” said Admiral Sir Ian Garnett, Chairman of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.
“We must never forget the men who served in these destroyers, who made an enormous contribution to the war effort and many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice. Their contribution is now tangibly recognised for the first time in over 60 years by this ‘The National Destroyer Memorial 1939-1945’.”
In his address the Duke said it was appropriate that the memorial be sighted at Chatham, which has been a Royal Dockyard for some 400 years and the home port of many of the Royal Navy’s smaller ships.
The new monument, which forms part of the memorial, has been created by Kenneth Potts from an imposing block of bronze that rests on a granite plinth of recycled dock stone.
On it is carved a dramatic and evocative high relief sculpture showing a ship engaged in rescuing survivors from a ship sunk by enemy action. A roll of honour lists the 142 Royal Navy destroyers lost during the war. It also records the sacrifice of other British, Dominion and Allied destroyers that were lost between 1939 and 1945.
“My design concept centres on a destroyer in action, with a graphic depiction of the lives of men who served in her,” explained Potts.
“HMS Cavalier on display at the Historic Dockyard is inspirational, yet I was conscious of the fact that although the ship is afloat, she is in dry dock and therefore removed from the two elements that gave her life, the men and the sea. I have tried to incorporate both and to convey the spirit of the ship in action.”
Beyond the destroyer Potts has depicted an expanse of sea meant to dramatically portray the harsh environment of the Atlantic and the Arctic wastes in which the World War Two conveys operated.
Standing at 3.8m (12’ 6”) wide and just over 3m (10’ 6”) high and in the shadow of a famous World War Two destroyer, the sculpture is meant to stand as not only a fitting memorial, but also a major piece of public art.
The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, ME4 4TZ, Kent, England
T: 01634 823800
Open: Mid February - Last Sunday in October, daily 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (or dusk if earlier). Last entry 3pm until clocks go forward, 4pm thereafter. Open weekends only during November.
Closed: Closed during December and January
