WW2 HMS Triumph Commemoration Events

By Francis Dickinson

In June this year families of those lost in the WW2 HMS Triumph gathered in Athens as part of a series of commemorative events organised by Gav Don. Gav’s uncle was Lt Robert Don DSC** RN who served at the Battle of the River Plate before becoming a submariner with the very successful HMS Triumph (Commander WJW Woods DSO*, later Admiral Sir Wilfred Woods).

Sadly, HMS Triumph was lost with all hands including special forces in January 1942, when under the command of Lt Johnny Huddart. In June 2023 an announcement was made that HMS Triumph’s wreck had been discovered, following which Gav (a former RN officer) planned and organised a trip to Greece for families. He arranged a boat trip to cast 64 wreaths at sea marking each person lost, as well as relevant points of interest in Athens. The linked film tells the story of this event, the people it commemorates and some of their families. A subsequent Triumph event was held at the Submariner Memorial at the National Arboretum. In previous years Triumph families had held other events including at the Submarine Museum. 

The entry for HMS Triumph in the Submarine Book of Remembrance is here.