HMS Vanguard suffered a series of on-board explosions shortly before midnight on 9 July 1917, as she lay at anchor in Scapa Flow. She sank almost immediately with the loss of all but two of the 845 men on board. The catastrophic loss of HMS Vanguard, a dreadnought battleship which had seen action at the Battle of Jutland, is one of the most tragic accidents in the history of the Royal Navy.

The centenary of the loss of HMS Vanguard will be commemorated on Sunday 9th July in Orkney over the wreck site and within the Royal Naval Cemetary at Lyness on the island of Hoy followed by a service at St Magnus Cathedral. If relatives, descendants and others would like to be part of the commemoration, we would encourage you to start planning your trip to Orkney.

Find out more here.