Quote: (Originally Posted by
Mdemon)
Sorry, but I fundamentally disagree with the idea of memorialising people who died using the transport they were using when they died.
A memorial people can visit and pay their last respects is appropriate. A lump of rusty metal on which the deceased's remains are unlikely even to have gone down on seems a pretty poor substitute.
If human remains are found, I believe we are obliged to report this and IIRC it is forbidden to touch them - maybe someone could add to this?
Just a thought Hannah, but what exactly do you think divers are doing when they are on these wrecks?
I don't agree with your statement above. With regard to at least these two wrecks, this wasn't some sort of bus carrying them, it was a home / fortress / life to the people on board. The whole story behind their loss is a tradegy that links human loss with the death of the battleship.
I haven't really sorted out my feelings for diving wrecks here people lost their lives, but examples such as the POW and Repulse do have a much stronger meaning than most, for me at least.
I am out this side of the world, and sooner or later hope to end up diving them, but really to visit and pay respects, not to penetrate and get a thrill.
Dave