To build a memorial to the 16 submariners lost in HMS UMPIRE

On the 19th of July 1941, the brand-new submarine, HMS UMPIRE, was making passage through the North Sea from the building yard at Chatham to the Clyde for trials and work-up. Submarines are notoriously difficult to spot at the best of times, but on a pitch-black night in the North Sea where visibility is often very poor, this was known to be a risky passage, so the boat was made part of a northbound convoy.

On the 19th she developed an engine problem and could no longer keep up with the convoy. A motor launch was detached to escort her, but they had become separated when a southbound convoy approached. Off Blakeney, one of its escorts, an armed trawler, the Peter Hendriks, accidentally collided with UMPIRE, and she sank in 18 metres of water.

On the bridge the CO and Officer of the watch plus the two lookouts were thrown into the water and initially managed to stay together but eventually became separated; only the CO was found, unconscious but still alive. After the boat settled on the bottom in about 80 feet of water some of her crew managed to escape from the Engine Room using the Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus and 4 through the Conning Tower making a free ascent. In total 16 were lost either in the boat or having not been found after a successful escape.

One of these latter – Sub Lieutenant Stephen Anthony (Tony) Godden DSC – had been Officer of the Watch and successfully swam away from the sinking boat only to drown before he could be rescued. He is buried at Mundesley Church on the coast near where his body came ashore.

The Norfolk Branch of the Submariners Association plans to place a memorial to all 16 lost in HMS UMPIRE in the Mundesley graveyard facing out to sea. It will be a plain Portland stone engraved with the submarine badge and listing the names of those lost. Carving will be by Nick Hindle, one of the country’s leading memorial masons.

Any support that you can give to this appeal by donation or spreading the word would help us ensure that the story of these 16 is never forgotten, and their sacrifice is never forgotten. Should more than the required amount be raised it will be donated to the church to help with the upkeep of the memorial and graveyard.

To find out more about those who lost their lives visit the online Submarine Book of Remembrance