9th of April 1942 - 74th Year after sinking of the Wreck Hermes
9th of April 1942, just 74 years ago, bombing and sinking of the wreck HMS Hermes the world's first purpose built air craft carrier off the East coast of Sri Lanka (Batticaloa) by the Japanese imperial naval fleet lead by vice admiral Nagumo Gucci was described as the most dangerous moments of the 2nd world war by Late sir Vinston Churchill.
Now the wreck has found her final resting place at a resounding depth of 53m beneath sea 8.5 km from the coast.
HMS Hermes lost Her Valiant capt. R.J.Onslaw, 19 brave officers 282 marines. from the battle which didn't last long. HMS Hermes was not ready for battle. she was sailing towards Gan islands accompanied the Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire.
As per eye witness Mr. Prince Casinader a 16 year old youth, later who became a member of the parliament, after his long stint as the Principal of the Methodist college of Batticaloa. Hd the following to say.
quote
About 80 - 100 carrier borne air crafts from the Japanese Naval fleet (three air craft carriers and two battle ships) took to the skies off the eastern coast of Ceylon and engaged the Target.
Japanese fighter air crafts were like angry bees - bombing the defense less Hermes.
when the first bomb fell on the deck of HMS Hermes the water loo started."
Unquote.
Mr. Prince Casinader further went on saying that on the 12th Of April three days after the sinking of the Hermes, three heavily decomposed bodies of three sailors, L.B Lewis, Vatcher and one un known sailor (His identification sign was missing) were found a shore.
Mr Casinader's father the Muddier of the land registry had effected burial at the Trincomalee wae emetry.
Few weeks later Mr. Casinader senior had received many letters of Mothers of the sailors missing in action asking whether the unidentified body could be of their son.
In 2012 a daughter of a survivor requested me to place some flowers on the wreck.
this year Tomorrow (9th of April) we will do for the 5th time.
Last year a team of tec CCR divers lead by Mark Powell brought a flag from the British Admiralty naval college and placed it on the range finder. I dived the wreck with some dive tour operators and the flag was on the wreck.
so far during the last five years more than 200 Australian tec divers dived the wreck guided by me.
Let's take a minute to remember the brave soldiers who sacrificed their life during the 2nd world war.
Feli
master instructor
Tec deep instructor
