In 1986 Parliament passed the Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA) to provide a means of protecting such wrecks, mainly as a result of divers disturbing them. The latter greatly distresses the friends, families and descendants of those who died in the same way that vandalisation of any memorial to their loved ones would. Incredibly, not one war grave has ever been designated (and thereby protected) under the 1986 Act.

The War Memorials Trust became established as there was concern that many war memorials were falling into disrepair and were being vandalised. It was felt there was a need for a body to monitor the condition of war memorials and to educate new generations about their significance and worth.

War Memorials Trust - Maritime seeks to preserve and protect our undersea "memorials" to those who died. It now has many diving and non-diving supporters up and down the country, some who still mourn those lost in these war graves. We are currently liaising with concerned MPs, ex-servicemen's associations, over 20 ship's survivor associations and many relatives of those lost. Crucially, the influential 35,000 strong Royal Naval Association is now calling upon the Government to implement the PMRA in full.

To help in this, we have started to draw up the only known list of UK maritime war graves which you will find on this website. You will also find a summary of the 1986 Act. Like the RNA, we would like to see such war graves are designated as controlled sites under this act and so granted the legal protection that is long overdue.

Those who died in such UK war graves did so fighting for our freedom from tyranny and oppression. The dead of foreign vessels died in faithful service of their country, however tragically misguided its leadership may have been.

It is a small thing to ask they be allowed to rest in peace.