A long shot non caravan related question

[parker1158]

This is a bit of a long shot question but feel this is a good place to start as there are so many folks on this forum from far flung places and more-over folk who travel these shores quite a lot.

I have several items of valuable maritime artefacts relating to one particular battle cruiser that was sunk during the Second World War. I would like to give these objects to a museum for all to enjoy. I have contacted the big naval museums and although they are obviously happy to take them they cannot guarantee they will be shown unless there is an exhibition to which they are relevant and will probably spend most of their time in storage.

Question, does anyone know of/live near/has visited a naval museum/exhibition that may be grateful of this gift and be exhibited for all to see.

 

[cris_408518]

It might help if you gave the ship and a little of its history. I'm just reading through "Cruisers of World War Two" by M J Whitely and it would be good to see the ships history for more of an idea.

If the Ship has a Royal Marine History the Royal Marine Museum at Southsea might be interested. Royal Marines often manned guns on Battle Cruisers along with other duties so if sunk in a battle it may be poignant to them.

Any links with Fleet Air Arm action and the museum at Yeovilton might be another option.

Have you tried the naval museums at Plymouth and Portsmouth or seeing if there is a museum at the ships home base if it was not one of those two.

 

[parker1158]

Hi Cris

HMS Grenville a destroyer built by Yarrow shipbuilders Scotstoun. Sunk 19/01/1940

 

[cris_408518]

Martyn the Grenville was a Destroyer so nnot oin my book and not a Cruiser and hit a mine of the Thames Astuary as you probably know. So it was not exactly sunk in action but a sad loss of many men.

You probably have already found the following on -

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/g h_class.htm#HMS Grenville
HMS GRENVILLE

At the Naval Cemetery at Shotley, Suffolk, is a communal grave containing the remains of eight men of HMS Grenville, who all died on 18 Jan 1940. That is the day before she was mined and sunk. Can anyone provide any information as to how these eight died, please. Richard Goring (richard@goring1941.freeserve.co.uk)

GRENVILLE ASSOCIATION.. There is an association for HMS Grenville and the 25th destroyer flotilla. Secretary is Mr R Dunbar, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Place, Binley Woods, nr Coventry, CV3 2BT. They have an annual reunion. No doubt new/old crew members will be most welcome. Thanks to Michael Leahy for this information (his father Tom Metcalfe served on HMS Grenville).

CAN ANYBODY HELP. My late husbands male cousin was killed or went missing after the sinking of HMS Grenville in the Thames estuary January 1940. He was a rating aged 17 or 18. Would somebody have a list of those killed. I would be grateful for any assistance contact Monika Butler at butlermillholme@btinternet.com

If this Grenville association is current may be someone there can assist you in your quest.

I have a Relative of mines distinguished RM service record and medals etc but the museums have so many such records so were not interested in even a quite unusual one.

Good luck and please let us know if you get anywhere.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

Almost all ships have/had a home town that they are associated with and their local museum may be interested, another option might be the local RNA (Royal Naval Association) although it may not be fully open to public view.

There are also veterans/survivors associations that may be interested.

As it was sunk in the Thames have you tried HMS Belfast or one of the local lifeboat museums?

I take it you have already tried the Imperial War Museum - they would probably be one of the ones to store it.

Try and make sure that you/your family keep the original title and that the items are on loan.