Scapa: Britain’s Famous Wartime Naval Base

Through two world wars, Scapa Flow was the main anchorage of the world’s greatest battlefleet – the British Home Fleet. This magnificent setting saw some of the great dramatic events of the 20th century take place, including Kitchener’s last farewell before setting sail on the “Hampshire” to his death, the sailing of the fleet to Jutland, and the surrender and scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet. Less remarked but equally extraordinary is the raising of the battlefleet between the wars in one of the greatest salvage operation in history. World War II opened with the sinking of the “Royal Oak”, still commemorated in the oil stain that floats over her wreck, and the construction of the great Churchill barriers which now link the islands. Perhaps most poignant of all is the little Italian chapel, constructed by prisoners of war on Lamb Holm. This text tells the story of Scapa through photographs. Culled from local collections, the Imperial War Museum, newspapers and many other sources this is a portrayal of the life and times of one of the world’s great naval bases.