The HMHS Britannic was originally built as a luxury liner in 1914. However, shortly after its completion, it was requisitioned as a hospital ship during World War I. Tragically, just two years later, the ship struck a mine and sank off the coast of Kea, southeast of Athens, while en route to the Greek island of Lemnos.
Once the largest hospital ship at sea, the Britannic vanished beneath the waves in less than an hour. Of the 1,060 passengers on board, all managed to escape, but 30 lives were lost when their lifeboats were struck by the ship’s propellers.
This week, archaeologists announced a major breakthrough with the recovery of priceless relics from the Britannic’s wreck — often referred to as the Titanic’s “sister ship.” According to Greece’s Culture Ministry, an 11-member deep-sea diving team carried out a week-long salvage operation in May under challenging conditions.
The Britannic was the third White Star Line Olympic-class steamship, alongside the Titanic and the Olympic. Among the well-preserved artefacts retrieved were the ship’s lookout bell, navigation lamp, silver-plated serving trays, ceramic tiles from a Turkish bath, and even a porcelain sink believed to be from the second-class cabins. Remarkably, the sink still retained its white finish, and a plate bore the distinct bright blue “White Star Line” stamp.
Divers utilized closed-circuit equipment as they battled strong currents and poor visibility to bring up these historic items. A pair of passenger binoculars was also recovered during the expedition.
The wreck of the Britannic lay undisturbed at the bottom of the Aegean Sea until December 1975, when it was discovered by famed deep-sea explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Lying at a depth of 120 metres (400 feet), the site is accessible only to the most skilled divers.
The recent recovery mission was jointly organized by British historian Simon Mills, founder of the Britannic Foundation. The salvaged artefacts have been transported to Athens for conservation.
Eventually, these items will be featured in a permanent collection at the new Museum of Underwater Antiquities, currently under development in the Greek port of Piraeus. The museum will include a dedicated First World War section, with the Britannic’s artefacts taking center stage.
This remarkable discovery sheds new light on a historic vessel and preserves its legacy for future generations.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breakthrough-treasures-titanic-wwi-sister-35928470