The story of the HMS Exmouth project began several years ago when Kevin Heath of Lost in Waters Deep first introduced his findings to the team. Kev revealed that HMS Exmouth, a war grave off Wick, had been dived but never properly surveyed. This revelation sparked a deep curiosity, leading to extensive research on the wreck. Over time, the project took shape with the goal of documenting the site and raising its profile to ensure it would not be forgotten.

Securing Permissions and Assembling the Team

As HMS Exmouth is a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act, diving there requires a license from the Ministry of Defence. The application process can take up to a year, but once approval was secured, the team was assembled to conduct a thorough investigation of the wreck. Preserving the memory of these sites is crucial, as visiting them serves as a tribute to the sailors who perished and ensures their sacrifices are not forgotten.

Investigating the Wreck: The Key Questions

The primary objectives of the project were:

• Assessing the current condition of the wreck, which has been on the seabed since 1940.
• Identifying any missing artifacts, as some wrecks have been looted over time.
• Understanding the events that led to the ship’s sinking, despite the lack of survivors.

Findings from the Survey

Upon diving the site, the we noted that HMS Exmouth is broken into two sections, both lying at angles to each other. This suggests a significant explosion occurred, causing substantial structural damage. The bow section is almost completely absent, with only a few recognizable features remaining. Historical records indicate that a torpedo from a U-boat struck the bow, and our findings support this theory.

Further examination of the midship section revealed something intriguing—depth charges that should have been present were missing. Additionally, damaged torpedo tubes were found, but no intact torpedoes remained. This suggests a possible secondary explosion, either from depth charges detonating as the ship sank or from torpedoes onboard going off. This aligns with wartime reports that mentioned a second explosion during the sinking.

Why This Matters

The wreck of HMS Exmouth is a vital part of naval history. While land battles from the World Wars are well-documented and accessible—such as the battlefields of the Somme and the Normandy beaches—naval theaters of war remain largely out of sight. The ships that rest on the seafloor are often the only physical remnants of these conflicts. By documenting and sharing images of these wrecks, the memory of the sailors who served aboard them is preserved.

One particularly poignant moment during the expedition was the raising of a Royal Navy ensign at the stern of the wreck. Seeing it flutter underwater was a stark reminder that the last time an ensign flew there was in January 1940, just before the ship was lost. That ensign was never lowered, as the ship and her crew went down with it.

Honoring the Fallen

HMS Exmouth went down with 190 souls onboard. Only 18 bodies were recovered and are buried in a cemetery in Wick. For the majority of the crew, the wreck itself is their final resting place. It is the duty of projects like this to preserve and remember such sites so that future generations can learn about and pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This project has been a deeply moving experience for all involved. Engaging with the local community and witnessing their eagerness to learn about the findings made all the effort worthwhile. By continuing to document and protect these war graves, the stories of those lost at sea will never be forgotten.

The Team

• Kevin Heath, Researcher
• Lt Cdr Jen Smith, Researcher and Expedition Diver
• Bob Anderson, Skipper and Expedition Diver
• Jim Burke, Expedition Diver
• Martin Maple, Expedition Diver
• Martin Demper, Expedition Diver
• Richard Walker, Diver
• Robert Baird, Diver