Royal Navy’s Northern Diving Group replaces White Ensign on HMS Royal Oak

Members of the Royal Navy’s Northern Diving Unit, based at HM Naval Base Clyde near Glasgow, have successfully replaced the White Ensign on HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow.

The flag exchange ceremony has been made in advance of commemoration events on Tuesday (October 14) to mark the 75th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak.

HMS Royal Oak sank in Scapa Flow on October 14, 1939 with the loss of 834 lives after being hit by torpedoes from German U-Boat U-47.

Launched in 1914 and in service in 1916, the Revenge-Class battleship saw service in the First World War, including the Battle of Jutland. The torpedo strikes which claimed the ship and so many lives were delivered barely a month into World War 2.

The lead diver for the flag replacement was Petty Officer Alan Dickman and he was accompanied for the ceremony by the Northern Diving Group’s youngest member of the team Able Rate Alexander Briggs, 22.

Alan is the Northern Diving Group’s longest serving member and the HMS Royal Oak commitments this weekend are his final major project within the Royal Navy before retiring.