Honouring Our Past
Welcome to the HMS WHIMBREL (1942-49) Battle of the Atlantic Memorial Project’s website.
By way of introduction, our aim is to commemorate one of the most important but least recognised campaigns of the Second World War through the return of HMS WHIMBREL, the last serving Royal Navy warship to have fought in the Battle of the Atlantic, to her former operating base in the City of Liverpool. We need £2m to purchase the ship, to get her refitted, and then to transport her back to the UK to become a visitor attraction in Liverpool for two main purposes:
- To establish a living memorial commemorating all those who served in the Battle of the Atlantic from 1939 to 1945, but especially those who lost their lives.
- To educate, to inspire and to give enjoyment to present and future generations by providing a permanent tangible example of a ship that fought in the Battle of the Atlantic.
But why are we putting so much emphasis on the Battle of the Atlantic? I am personally motivated by the fact that my father was a distinguished Convoy Escort Group commander from 1940 to 1943, but the real reason is that the campaign had enormous significance for the survival of this country and the overall Allied success: Winston Churchill said that the Battle of the Atlantic was the only campaign that really frightened him, as failure would have lost us the war. The campaign lasted for all 5 years of the war, so it deserves to be commemorated properly – particularly in tribute to the 100,000 who died.
My colleagues and I appreciate that you will receive many requests for support from charities. The HMS WHIMBREL Project is a charity that is going to help save a unique piece of naval history and help provide a tribute to those involved in the Battle of the Atlantic.
If you are unable to help us at the moment we understand, and all we ask is that you please remember us in the future and that you let others know about this exciting new project. We really need your help to save this treasure.
We hope you enjoy visiting our website, please do get in touch if you need anymore information.
With very best wishes on behalf of everyone at the HMS WHIMBREL Project.
Vice Admiral Michael Gretton, CB, CVO, MA, FNI,
Chairman
