by Fiona Grahame

IN THE EARLY hours of the 1st of March 1917, whilst on regular patrol, HMS Pheasant struck a mine at Rora Head, Hoy, Orkney. All 89 members of the crew lost their lives that day. Only one body was ever recovered, that of Midshipman Reginald Cotter, who was still alive when pulled from the water.

Although miniscule compared to the millions who died in the slaughter of World War 1, for the men’s families, the loss of their loved ones was devastating.

What happened to HMS Pheasant, an M class destroyer which was only launched on 23rd of October 1916 was virtually forgotten until a maritime survey conducted by Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA), the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and SULA Diving located its remains.