Clifford Mickleburgh, Secretary of the Cruising Association Kent Section, writes:
Many of you may be aware of the East and West Bulwark buoys marking the military wreck of HMS Bulwark at Kethole Reach on the River Medway, near Thamesport.
We have organised a small flotilla of pleasure craft to leave the pontoon at Chatham Marina at 06.00 on Wednesday, 26 November 2014 to proceed downriver to Kethole Reach to remember those who lost their lives when the 15,000 ton battleship HMS Bulwark blew up a hundred years before at 07.53 with the loss of over 738 officers and men whilst they were finishing breakfast and getting ready for work; there was only a handful of survivors.
We will be joined by other vessels from Medway Ports, Medway Pilots, Svitzer Towage and the PLA. It is hoped that some of you may wish to join us at the Remembrance Service
LW Sheerness 08.52 (0.7m) Sunrise 07.25
The service will be conducted by the Revd Alan Boxall and will be broadcast on VHF Ch 73, some of you may wish to bring a wreath to leave at the site.
We have also learnt that the HMS Bulwark Association has a programme of events taking place at the Chatham Historic Dockyard over the weekend. There is a memorial at Sheerness, but many of the relatives have never visited the site of where HMS Bulwark blew up with such a tragic loss of life.
It would help with the planning if you could let me know if you will be joining us in your own vessel.
Clifford Mickleburgh
mobile 07803 727350
email clifford (at) mickleburgh.me.uk