Memory of sunken minesweeper and crew live on as museum artefact 

With help from HM Coastguard's Receiver of Wreck, a home has been found for the builder’s plate of HMS Loyalty at The D-Day Story in Portsmouth  

Nineteen lives were lost when HMS Loyalty was destroyed by a German submarine while returning to the UK on 22 August 1944. The vessel had been supporting Allied minesweeping duties off the Normandy coast. There were 30 survivors.  

Its story was revived in 2010 when the wreck was encountered by a diver seeking to explore a sunken pontoon – known as a Whale Unit – designed to provide floating roads for the D-Day landings. 

Instead, he ended up locating HMS Loyalty, laying on the seabed nearby, and found its metal builder’s plate, a unique record attached to the vessel showing where and when it was built, the manufacturer, and other construction details. 

When people correctly report finds, we can identify the most appropriate home for them

The diver responsibly reported his find to the Receiver of Wreck, part of HM Coastguard. Deputy Receiver of Wreck Andrea Bailey picked up the report – known as a droit – and liaised with the finder and museum to find a new home to honour its memory. 

The builder’s plate was handed over by Andrea to Andrew Whitmarsh, curator of The D-Day Story in Southsea, Portsmouth, on 14 November. The museum intends to put the plate on display in the future. 

Deputy Receiver of Wreck Andrea Bailey said: “I’m very grateful for the cooperation of the artefact’s finder and The D-Day Story in resolving this case. 

“When people correctly report finds, we can identify the most appropriate home for them. That might be with the rightful owner or, like this case, a museum where the memory of HMS Loyalty – and the brave crew who were lost – can live on with honour.” 

The D-Day Story tells the story of 1944 D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy. It holds over 10,000 items – preserving, researching and acquiring objects to share with the public through exhibitions, workshops and other activities. 

HMS Loyalty is now protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, which means that divers can dive on this wreck, but nothing further can be recovered. 

Main photo: Andrew Whitmarsh is presented with the builder’s plate by Andrea Bailey