To honour the memory of the crew of HMS EXMOUTH who were lost when she was sunk on 20 January 1940 we aim to have their names added to the new RNLI Shannon-class lifeboat in Exmouth, Devon.

About the project

On 20 January 1940, HMS EXMOUTH was on escort duty in the Moray Firth when she was torpedoed by German submarine U-22. The ship sank in minutes, with the loss of all 190 crew.

In August 2024 a volunteer team of civilian divers conducted a survey of the WW2 destroyer under licence from the Ministry of Defence.

The survey is part of a wider project to raise awareness of the loss and ensure the heritage of this site is preserved.

A wreath was laid at Wick Cemetery, beside the graves of 18 sailors who washed ashore. The team then met with members of the local community to share their experiences of the wreck, and see the the artefacts of remembrance in St Fergus Church.

The team will now spend the next few months collating and reviewing the imagery, before releasing a report and website so the wider public can ‘see’ the wreck as she is today.

Your donation to the RNLI will not only help save lives at sea it will help preserve the memory of HMS EXMOUTH's crew. For each multiple of £50 donated one of the crew's names will be added to the new Exmouth lifeboat.

About the RNLI

Too many people are still drowning. More than ever we need the RNLI’s help. As a charity, the RNLI depends on our donations so it can go on saving lives and keeping us and our loved ones safe.

RNLI lifesavers are our lifeline. They’re the lifeboat crews who provide 24-hour search and rescue right around the UK and Ireland. The lifeguards keeping watch on 240 of the busiest beaches in the UK and Channel Islands. And the RNLI safety teams and educators working tirelessly to stop people getting into trouble in the first place.

Thank you.