Memorial service held in Newbury for submarine lost at sea in 1943

A memorial service has been held to mark the sinking of Newbury’s lost wartime submarine.

Dignitaries, councillors and representatives of the Royal Naval Association and Submariner's Association gathered at the Newbury branch of the Royal British Legion on Sunday (March 2) to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the disappearance of HMS Tigris – a T-class submarine Newbury ‘adopted’ in February 1942.

During the Second World War, Newbury joined other communities across the country in supporting various schemes to bolster Britain's armed forces. One example was Warship Week.

In February 1942, the town challenged itself to raise a whopping £425,000 to adopt the HMS Tigris (millions of pounds in today’s money).

It ended up raising a final total of £431,243.

HMS Tigris departed the island of Malta on February 18, 1943, on its 18th war patrol south-west of Naples.

READ MORE: The mystery of Newbury's forgotten warship

But it was sunk by a German U-Boat six miles off the coast of Capri before it reached its destination.

All 63 crew members were lost at sea and no identifiable wreckage has ever been found.

Newbury sailor Vernon Cole narrowly avoided perishing with the vessel.

Fortunately, he was transferred to an X-class ‘midget submarine’ before it sunk and safely returned home after the war.

A service has been held annually in the town to pay respects to those onboard.

The exact final resting place of the wreckage remains unknown, although theories exist.

Read about the full mystery of the Tigris in the Newbury Weekly News (issue Thursday, March 9, 2023).