UNITED KINGDOM WMMA BULLETIN MEMBERS’ EDITION

WMMA Chronicle

WARTIME MARITIME MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION ISSUE DATE: 15 DECEMBER 2025 CUSTODIANS • VOLUNTEERS • SUPPORTERS

PRESERVING WARTIME VESSELS, PRESERVING LIVING HISTORY

Updates from custodians and volunteers; restoration milestones; remembrance activities;
and opportunities to support the fleet through skills, stories, and practical help.

The Wartime Maritime Memorial Association exists to recognise the service of wartime vessels and the people who built, crewed, maintained, and safeguarded them. Our work focuses on practical stewardship — supporting custodians, sharing reliable history, and helping keep these craft active as memorials, where appropriate, or protected in long-term care.

This bulletin shares restoration progress, events and commemorations, archive discoveries, and the calls for volunteers and sponsors that keep projects moving. It is also a place to celebrate the quiet, consistent efforts that often happen out of sight: routine maintenance, paperwork, safety improvements, training, and the careful conservation of original material.

If you have an update to publish, a vessel story to record, or a request for support, submit it through the members’ area. Where appropriate, WMMA can help signpost grants, connect you with specialist knowledge, and amplify your appeal to the wider community.

THIS MONTH’S FOCUS

Winter lay-up and safeguarding: checks, covers, corrosion control, fuel care, and documentation for spring recommissioning.

FROM THE DIRECTORSHIP

“Every hour invested in upkeep and safe operation is an act of remembrance. Our aim is to back custodians with practical support, sound governance, and a respectful platform for sharing history.”

RESTORATION & MAINTENANCE

Milestones, dockyard days, refits, and conservation updates. Include before/after photos, key decisions taken, and any specialist help needed.

ARCHIVE & RESEARCH

Crew lists, operational history, photographs, and documents. WMMA can help publish summaries and preserve originals safely.

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY

Talks, youth engagement, school visits, and public open days that connect communities with wartime maritime service.