Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Mark 100 Years Since The Loss of SS Mendi

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence on Monday attended a ceremony of remembrance at Hollybrook Cemetery in Southampton marking the centenary of the sinking of the SS Mendi during the First World War.

In what is described as “one of the worst maritime disasters in British waters”, over 600 men – mostly members of the South African Native Labour Corps on their way to France to assist with the Allies’ labour requirements – were killed when the ship sunk off the coast of the Isle of Wight on February 21, 1917 after being struck accidentally by the cargo ship SS Darro.

Sir Timothy, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, gave a speech at the ceremony, which was held next to the Hollybrook Memorial, which was erected in honour of the servicemen and women from across the Commonwealth who have no known grave or who died at sea.

He and Princess Anne also spent time speaking with staff from the CWGC.

The Princess Royal attends a Service of Remembrance to commemorate the loss of the SS Mendi @CWGC

Learn more → https://t.co/mJaZ426Kqx pic.twitter.com/7MzeZEDWBX

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 20, 2017

Proceedings at Hollybrook close with HRH, The Princes Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, meeting @CWGC staff responsible for the cemetery #Mendi100 pic.twitter.com/9coJAlwsX5

— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) February 20, 2017

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Anniversary, Commonwealth of Nations, Memorial, Patronage, The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, World War I.