| The formal handing-over of the ship's bell of the HMS Vestal
As we reported in an earlier Newsletter, on the 06.05.2007 Joerg discovered, during a dive on the till then unidentified wreck, positive proof that the sunken vessel is the remains of the minesweeper HMS Vestal.
Due to the sensational nature of the find, in terms of its historical significance and also with respect to the likely wishes of the obvious owners we refrained from announcing the nature of the find at the time. The raised item was indeed the ship's bell of the HMS Vestal.
After successfully cleaning the bell it was clear to us that this was a valuable relic and we did not hesitate to contact the British Admiralty to discuss the next steps to be taken. Although it was clear to us even then that we would have to give up this unique find, we were of the opinion that it would be in the interest of all parties concerned for the bell to be accessible to as wide a public as possible. After numerous discussions with a representative from the British Royal Navy, we agreed to return the bell to them with the aim of having it find a place in a museum. As the ownership of the bell clearly lay with the Navy, the only other alternative open to us was to return the bell to the wreck itself. This did not seem to us to be a good idea.
On the 25.02.2008, we officially handed over the bell to a representative from the British Military Attache in Bangkok. It is planned to transport the bell back to England with the next available Royal Navy ship or via air transport. Even though it was difficult for us to part with such a wonderful find, we are at the same time very proud to know that with our help the ship's bell of the last British ship to be sunk in the second world war is going home and can take a place of honour in remembrance of the fallen crew of the HMS Vestal.
Further information about the location of the bell will be published here in due course.
Andreas and Joerg, Deep Blue Divers Phuket |