In August 2024 a volunteer team of civilian divers surveyed the wreck of the WW2 destroyer HMS Exmouth under licence from the Ministry of Defence. The aim of the project is not only to record the condition of the ship, but also to raise awareness of the loss and ensure the heritage of the site is preserved.

On 20 January 1940, HMS Exmouth was on escort duty in the Moray Firth when she was torpedoed by German submarine U-22. The ship sank in minutes, with the loss of all 190 crew.

While the diver team was together in Scotland a wreath was laid at Wick Cemetery, beside the graves of the eighteen sailors who washed ashore. The divers met with members of the local community to share their experiences of the wreck, and see the artefacts of remembrance in St Fergus Church.

Thoughts then turned to a tangible memorial and the RNLI’s Launch a Memory scheme.

Launch a Memory allows people to have a name inscribed on the decal of a new lifeboat in return for a small donation to the charity. By chance the current Launch a Memory lifeboat was to be for the station in Exmouth, Devon – what better way to honour the crew for their names to be inscribed on a lifeboat?

Many people like to support lifeboat charities. Not least divers who hope they will not need the service, but often feel it is prudent to support the lifeboats.

A JustGiving page was created and the team began publicising the campaign and raising funds. The HMS Exmouth Association (the friends and relatives of the crew) spread the word. The campaign was picked up by the diving press and the Royal Navy through the Navy News magazine.

Many donations were received from descendants of the crew, but also from divers, and other interested in the ship and the Royal Navy. So far nearly 100 donations have been received raising £6,826.65 (including Gift Aid) to save lives at sea.

In July 2025 a Shannon-class lifeboat was launched at the RNLI’s Poole Headquarters with all 190 crew names aboard – displayed on the ‘R’ on the roof-mounted decal. Lt Cdr Jen Smith, who led the diving team, attended the event with David Ellis of the HMS Exmouth Association, who also presented a brass plaque with HMS Exmouth’s crew’s names for the lifeboat station.

Some of the divers and Association members visited the lifeboat when she was delivered to Exmouth.

The diving team are proud to support the RNLI and see the crew of HMS Exmouth go to sea again.

About the RNLI

Philanthropist William Hillary was inspired by shipwrecks on the coast of the Isle of Man in 1822 to “appeal to the British nation” to establish “a national institution for the preservation of life and property from shipwreck”. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was founded in 1824, originally as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, and is the largest lifeboat service operating around the British Isles.

 97% of the operation crew are volunteers. Four hundred lifeboats operate from 238 stations.

Too many people are still drowning. More than ever we need the RNLI’s help. As a charity, the RNLI depends on our donations so it can go on saving lives and keeping us and our loved ones safe.