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WWII wreck gets war grave status | WWII wreck gets war grave status |
(10 minutes later) | |
Two sisters from Sussex have finally won the right for the wreck of their father's World War II ship to be classed as an official war grave. | Two sisters from Sussex have finally won the right for the wreck of their father's World War II ship to be classed as an official war grave. |
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to grant the SS Storaa, which was torpedoed off the Hastings coast in 1943, full military protection. | The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to grant the SS Storaa, which was torpedoed off the Hastings coast in 1943, full military protection. |
Rosemary Fogg and Valerie Ledgard, from Worthing, won a court case and then an appeal in 2006 to protect the vessel. | Rosemary Fogg and Valerie Ledgard, from Worthing, won a court case and then an appeal in 2006 to protect the vessel. |
But the MoD had been taking advice about the ownership of the wreck. | But the MoD had been taking advice about the ownership of the wreck. |
The women are the daughters of Petty Officer James Varndell, who died with 21 others when the merchant ship SS Storaa was torpedoed during WWII. | |
'Look not touch' | 'Look not touch' |
They argued in court that the ship should be classed as a war grave because it was on military duties when it sank. | They argued in court that the ship should be classed as a war grave because it was on military duties when it sank. |
James Varndell's daughters led the war grave campaign | James Varndell's daughters led the war grave campaign |
Mrs Ledgard welcomed the decision, saying: "It's not a complete forgotten scene, someone will actually write down properly that the SS Storaa is a war grave." | Mrs Ledgard welcomed the decision, saying: "It's not a complete forgotten scene, someone will actually write down properly that the SS Storaa is a war grave." |
Derek Twigg, Under Secretary of State for Defence, said: "Following the ruling by the Court of Appeal in October last year... the MoD reconsidered its stance regarding the designation of SS Storaa as a war grave. | Derek Twigg, Under Secretary of State for Defence, said: "Following the ruling by the Court of Appeal in October last year... the MoD reconsidered its stance regarding the designation of SS Storaa as a war grave. |
"We have now agreed to designate the wreck as a protected place under the act. | "We have now agreed to designate the wreck as a protected place under the act. |
"The wreck will be protected from unauthorised interference by divers who will only be allowed to dive on a 'look but don't touch or enter' basis once designated, any physical interference with the wreck would require prior licensing by MoD." | "The wreck will be protected from unauthorised interference by divers who will only be allowed to dive on a 'look but don't touch or enter' basis once designated, any physical interference with the wreck would require prior licensing by MoD." |
The SS Storaa was attacked by German E-boats as it transported steel in convoy to a weapons factory in Cardiff. | The SS Storaa was attacked by German E-boats as it transported steel in convoy to a weapons factory in Cardiff. |
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