HMS Vanguard Statement

It is clear that these objects are of high heritage significance. They represent not only the extraordinary story of the ship and her loss but also the sacrifice of those who served aboard her. The recovered items – including the ship’s bell – speak powerfully to the violence of Vanguard’s tragic end and the human cost of war.

These objects were discovered on the seabed, outside the protected zone surrounding the wreck. Their location placed them at high risk of being lost forever, making their recovery both urgent and essential.

While the items remain the property of the Ministry of Defence, they will now be transferred into the stewardship of the National Museum of the Royal Navy. We will oversee their careful conservation to ensure their long-term preservation.

Once conserved, we are delighted that the objects will be loaned to Orkney Islands Council’s Scapa Flow Museum, where they will be made accessible to the public. This is part of our wider ambition as a national museum to share our collections and the stories they tell as broadly and meaningfully as possible.

This project has been an exemplary model of close collaboration between our institutions, made possible by the generosity of funders who supported the recovery and conservation effort. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to preserving our naval heritage.
 

Matthew Sheldon

CEO, The National Museum of the Royal Navy