H M S Barham

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia that anyone can edit

H M S Barham was a Queen Elizabeth class battleship, 196m long, 32m beam and 10m draught which anchored in Lerwick Harbour for eight days in June 1933. Usually, large naval ships anchored in Brei Wick, but H M S Barham entered the inner harbour and lay off Victoria Pier, and is believed to be the biggest Royal Navy vessel to do so.
H M S Barham took part in the Battle of Jutland, on May 31st and June 1st 1916, receiving 5 hits and firing over 300 shells.
At this sea battle, there were 22 Shetlanders in her crew of 1124. Amongst them were Gilbert Thomson, Albert Nisbet, George Ross and Andrew Leask. It was customary for the crew to be paid a 'bounty' after an engagement,and after this one Andrew Leask's share was 5/1, (5 shillings and one penny) equivalent in 2005 to £11.48.
On 25th November 1941, H M S Barham was torpedoed in her magazine, blew up and sank in the Mediterannean Sea.
[HMS Barham explodes]