Episode 57 - The Sinking of HMS Royal Oak

This week, we stay on Orkney again for the story of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak at Scapa Flow on 14th October 1939.

[stephencachia]

Hi Owen, it was really interesting to listen to your podcast about the sinking of HMS Royal Oak.Thanks and well done.My great uncle, Joseph Benedetto Cachia, a leading steward (E/LX 20812) from Malta died on that ship on that tragic night. He was 36 years old and is listed as MPK (Missing Presumed Killed) in the official records. His name is written on the remembrance book in St.Magnus among the 835 names of those who perished. He was not supposed to be on shift that night but had swapped his shift so that his colleague could go on a date. There were several other Maltese seamen and servicemen who died on the HMS Royal Oak as well. John Gatt, who rescued many survivors on that tragic night, was probably Maltese too as Gatt is a very common surname in Malta.My great uncle Joseph's wife was called Kitty and he had two daughters Lilian and Carmen. God grant Eternal Rest to all those who died on that ship on that night and all those who died at sea during the war.