DATELINE: 30 July 2002

MOD BRANDED INCONSISTENT OVER WAR GRAVES
Divers are to remove the bells from the wrecks of warships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, sunk off Malaysia in WW2 by the Japanese. The wrecks are designated for Protected status in a statutory instrument that comes into force at the end of September.
Despite urging divers to 'look but not touch' and statements about preserving the sanctity of war graves, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence confirmed that a Navy expedition is being planned to locate and remove the bells from the two ships. The rationale for the move was that the wrecks had already suffered items being removed from them by locally based, non-British divers. The bells are considered to be in danger of being looted, despite the legislation.
"We have communicated our concerns to the governments of Malaysia and Singapore. This action is not a reflection on British divers, who we are confident will respect the wrecks." the MoD told Divernet. The expedition is planned to take place after the protective legislation comes into force.
"I'm very unimpressed," commented an expedition diver who has visited the wrecks on a number of occasions. "It appears to be one rule for the MoD and another for us. Either they are war graves, which should be left intact and undisturbed, or they're historical wrecks which can have artefacts removed for preservation. Playing it both ways just creates confusion."
Stewart McDermott, who last year led an expedition to locate and positively identify the wreck of HMS Exmouth, was recently refused permission by the MoD to dive on the wreck. "I asked permission to place a plaque of remembrance to the crew, as my great uncle was lost on the Exmouth," he explained. "Despite everything that has been said about the wishes of relatives being paramount, I can honestly say, as a relative, that I don't feel the wishes of my family have been respected." Dr Lewis Moonie MP, Parliamentary Under Secreatary for Defence, explained the decision to refuse a licence to McDermott in the following terms: "All intrusive activity - which includes diving - on or around HMS Exmouth is prohibited without a licence from the MoD. In order to preserve the sanctity of this and other wrecks, it is our intention that such licences will only be granted on a very exceptional basis." When asked what would count as 'a very exceptional basis', our MoD spokesman declined to comment.
"In introducing a more proactive system of maritime military grave protection, a line has to be drawn on access to wrecks and there will always be those who, through no fault of their own, find themselves on the wrong side of it," concluded Dr Moonie.

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