A World War One U-Boat propeller which was found at a storage unit in Bangor, has been handed back to the German Navy following a joint operation between the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Historic England and North Wales Police.

The propeller was one of two found in Bangor in September 2017, they are believed to have been illegally recovered from the wreck of the submarine UC-75 by a diver off the Yorkshire coast and probably destined to enter the scrap metal trade. No charges were made but a man was formally cautioned.

The German submarine UC-75 was built and launched in 1916 and credited with sinking 58 ships including two warships and damaging a further eight, either by torpedo or by mines laid.

UC-75 was rammed and sunk by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Fairy in May 1918. Seventeen German crew members died and 14 survived.

On Friday, one of the propellers started its journey back to Germany, with the second one destined for display at the Royal Navy Museum in Portsmouth. It was formally handed over on board FGS Bonn which is currently based in Plymouth for training. In November, two Remembrance ceremonies, one in Germany, one in the UK will be held at the same time to honour the fallen of both sides.

Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey, CEO of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency said: “These propellers tell a story of bitter conflict and human loss, but also of bravery, selflessness and love. It is fitting that they will now serve to remind citizens in both our countries of the realities of war and the personal sacrifices that inevitably follow. We in the MCA are proud to play our part in honouring that remembrance.”

Captain Matthias Schmidt, German Naval Attache said: “The propeller witnessed the struggle for life 100 years ago. It will come home. It will be officially handed over to the Naval Museum in Laboe on the occasion of Armistice Day in November. The story of UC-75 is ending in a message of reconciliation and hope – the fruit of the close partnership between our two nations that has brought us together here today.”

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s Receiver of Wreck Alison Kentuck said: ‘‘The shipwrecks of the First World War are an important part of our shared cultural heritage and divers are making a huge contribution to our knowledge and understanding of these wrecks by finding new sites and putting names to previously unidentified ones.

“However, it’s not a case of ‘finders’ keepers’ and all recoveries of wreck material must be reported to the Receiver of Wreck so that legal owners can be given an opportunity of having their property returned and museums and other institutions can be given an opportunity to acquire artefacts of historic significance. I am pleased that in this case the UC-75 propellers are going to such appropriate homes, both in the UK and Germany.”

Mark Dunkley, Maritime Archaeologist at Historic England said: “The coastal minelayer UC-75 is a military maritime grave and a reminder of all those who gave their lives at sea during the First World War. The salvage of the two propellers, stolen for their scrap value, shows the vulnerability of our shared past to a small criminal minority.”

Simon May, Lead Investigator from the MCA’s Enforcement team said: “This is another good example of how agencies can work together to recover such important historical artefacts that have been illegally salvaged.”

PC Neil Jones of North Wales Police said: “A warrant was executed at property on Anglesey last September, which led to another property in Bangor being searched where the items were discovered.

“A man has since received a formal caution in relation to the find. We are pleased that both propellers are now en route to appropriate homes in the UK and Germany.”

Cleaning the propellers was a task taken on by Paul Stevens, an Instructor at Southampton College Marine Skills School, who together with his students spend over 50 hours cleaning the first one in time for the handover today.

Photo: North Wales Police