Declaration

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

On May 26th 2000 the members (Survivors) of HMS PRINCE OF WALES and HMS REPULSE SURVIVORS ASSOCIATION; made application to the Ministry of Defence for both ships to be designated as 'Controlled Sites' under the 'PROTECTION OF MILITARY REMAINS ACT 1986'

Contrary to rumour and possibly innuendo; it is emphasised that the survivors association is not anti-diving. We have not requested for a complete diving ban or for any additional amendments to the 'Protection of Military Remains Act 1986'.

As far as the survivors are concerned, designation as 'Controlled Sites' merely means that in order to dive, license to do so would have to be obtained. To the diving persons who have assured us that their diving has been strictly on a 'look and don't touch basis' this designation would offer them no problem, in our opinion.

It has been remarked that survivors associations are making a somewhat belated application on this issue. It is strongly emphasised that it is only in the past twenty months or so that the survivors of the ships lost became aware that their vessels and the remains of their shipmates were not being protected as War Graves should be.

To some these events may seem long ago, to us, it is always yesterday. Some of my own schoolday friends still lie with the ships. Those friends are still 17 years old. We feel that they and the others who lie there should be left in peace. Considering the price they paid, we feel that requesting designation as 'Controlled Sites' under POMRA 1986 in order to give them that peace is a small repayment to ask for.

I have made it known to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Ministry of Defence that the association is not anti-Diver or anti-diving and that our application is a straight forward request under POMRA 1986, nothing more, nothing less.

There are a number of persons who are interested in and in support of our request to the MoD and also to the protection of Maritime graves as a whole. To avoid confusion and misunderstanding it is submitted that any items or information from HMS PRINCE OF WALES and HMS REPULSE SURVIVORS ASSOCIATIONS will only come from the Secretary of the association direct.

Yours sincerely
Ken L Byrne.

HMS ‘Prince of Wales’ and HMS ‘Repulse’ Survivors Association
Chairman John Garner R.M (rtd)	Patron Rear Admiral Guy Griffiths AO,DSO,DSC,RAN	Secretary Ken Byrne R.N (rtd)