Scapa 100 Events Programme 15 – 27 June 2019
As part of the Armistice agreement at the end of World War I, Germany had to surrender most of its Naval fleet. A total of 74 ships of the German High Seas Fleet arrived in Scapa Flow for internment. On 21 June 1919, under the mistaken belief that peace talks had failed, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter gave the command to scuttle the entire fleet in the Flow. A total of 50 ships went to the seafloor and this remains the greatest loss of shipping ever recorded in a single day.
During 2019 several projects led by the Orkney community as well as international contributors will reveal the historical significance of the scuttling, mark its impact and continued legacy in Orkney. Commemorations will remember the 15 German lives lost as a result of the internment and scuttling.
All events are free, on a first come, first served basis, unless otherwise stated. Please note that some free events have limited capacity and are by limited ticket only. See daily event listings for details.
Stromness Museum, Summer exhibitions
Scapa Flow – Salvaging our Heritage - The Wrecks of Scapa Flow and Living Wrecks: The Marine Life of Scapa flow. 6 April – 2 November. Visit http://www.stromnessmuseum.co.uk/ for opening times.
Orkney Museum Exhibition, Summer exhibition
1919 – The Scuttling of the German Fleet - 4 May to 2 November.
Saturday 15
Scapa Flow: Up Close and Underwater exhibition: Opening to 18:00, North light Gallery, Stromness - Exhibition of oil painting and photographs created underwater by artist Caroline Appleyard and photographer Marjo Tynkkynen (Until Wednesday 26 June).
With All flags flying: Doors open 19:15 for 19:45 start, West Side Cinema, Town Hall, Stromness -1986 documentary about the Scuttling of the German High Sea Fleet - With Scapa 100 introduction by Emily Turton.
Sunday 16
Scapa 100 Hub : Opening to 18:00, Royal Hotel, Stromness. Join the Scapa 100 team with special guests Deerness Distillery. Try the new Scuttled Gin or a beer from the bar and talk about all things Scapa.
The Scapa 100 Hub will open each day from 12:00 and is the perfect place to relax and talk diving. Historical information and the latest research will be on show. During the evening’s experts will be on hand to talk about aspect of the scuttling and Scapa Flow. (From Saturday 22 the Hub relocates to the Warehouse Buildings, see day by day listings for times and specific Hub events).
Beneath the Flow: a theatre piece with music, by the St Magnus Players: 19:00, Ness Battery, Stromness. Devised from eyewitness accounts and other source material, the events leading to the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet are told from the parallel perspectives of Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, Commander of the interned fleet, and John, a young Orcadian boy on the island of Cava. Von Reuter’s momentous decision is set against the backdrop of the fleet in Scapa Flow, which had become an everyday sight in Orkney.
Tickets £10 Inc transport, from 1 May JB Rosey, Stromness and Ortak, Albert Street, Kirkwall. Bus pick 18.00 from Stromness Ferry Terminal. Ness battery gates open 45 minutes before the show. Wheel chair access to be pre-booked when purchasing ticket. Running time - approximately one hour.
Monday 17
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 22:00 (Royal Hotel).
Stromness Museum Evening: Opening until 20:00. Summer exhibitions with resident experts on hand to talk about stories and artefacts.
Tuesday 18
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 22:00 (Royal Hotel)
Witnessing History: The End of the German High Seas Fleet, 21 June 1919: 19:00, Town Hall, Stromness. An illustrated talk and book signing by author David Meara.
Scapa 100 talk: 20:00, Town Hall, Stromness.
Wednesday 19
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 22:00 (Royal Hotel).
Virtual Reality Session: 18:00 to 20:00. Scapa 100 Hub (Royal Hotel). Explore the wrecks of Scapa Flow with the latest VR technology.
Stromness Museum Evening: Opening to 20:00 - Summer exhibitions with resident experts on hand to talk about stories and artefacts.
Thursday 20
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 16:00 (Royal Hotel).
Book Signing: 11:00 - Orcadian Book Shop. Meet the author, Nick Jellicoe, for the launch of his new book, The Last Days of the High Seas Fleet.
Meet The German Fleet Scuttle’s Descendants: 14:00 St Magnus Centre.
- Nick Jellicoe, author of The Last Days of the High Seas Fleet will talk about the scuttle in its wider context. With him will be British and German descendants of the key actors on that fateful day.
Scapa 100 Official Anniversary Event 18:00, Town Hall, Stromness (By invitation and limited ticket only). - Prof. Dr Michael. Epkenhans Head of Centre for Military History, Bundeswehr presents the historical context of the Scuttling with musical contributions from the German Federal Navy and Royal Navy.
(Tickets from 1 June at Orkney Islands Council Customer Services in Kirkwall and Stromness).
Stromness Museum Evening: Opening to 20:00 - Summer exhibitions with resident experts on hand to talk about stories and artefacts.
Friday 21
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 22:00 (Royal Hotel).
Orkney Historic Boat Society - Cingalee Restoration Display. 114-year-old Navy and Army Canteen Vessel that supplied the British Fleet through WW1 and WW2 - restored to dry exhibition standard and displayed with her fascinating story for public interaction. External to the Warehouse Buildings, Stromness from 21 to 23.
Scapa 100 Official Commemorative Service – Commonwealth War Graves Royal Naval Cemetery Lyness: (Full details to follow).
St Magnus Festival, The Day the Fleet went down, Johnsmas Foy: 18:30, Orkney Theatre, Kirkwall. Tickets available from https://www.stmagnusfestival.com/
Saturday 22
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 18:00 (Warehouse Buildings). Orkney Historic Boat Society - Cingalee Restoration Display.
Hyperbaric Chamber Public Opening: 11:00 to 15:00, Old Academy, Stromness.
Sunday 23
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 20:00 (Warehouse Buildings).
Festival Service: 11:15, St Magnus Cathedral.
Orkney Historic Boat Society: Cingalee Restoration Display.
Beneath the Flow: A theatre piece with music, by the St Magnus Players, 15:00 and 19:00, Ness Battery, Stromness (See Sunday 16 for full details)
Scapa 100 Hub - Welcome and Virtual Reality Session: 18:00 to 20:00 (Warehouse Buildings). A welcome to the second week of the Scapa 100 Hub and a chance to explore the wrecks of Scapa Flow with the latest VR technology.
Monday 24
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 18:00 (Warehouse Buildings).
Stromness Museum Evening: Opening to 20.00. Summer exhibitions with resident experts on hand to talk about stories and artefacts.
Tuesday 25
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 20:00 (Warehouse Buildings).
St Magnus Festival - The Day the Fleet went down: Johnsmas Foy 18:00, Town Hall, Stromness. Tickets at https://www.stmagnusfestival.com/
An evening with Rod Macdonald: 18:00 to 20:00, Warehouse Buildings, Stromness. Rod is the author of Dive Scapa Flow, now in its fifth edition. Rod will talk about how the book has developed over the last 20 years and share some his many anecdotes.
Wednesday 26
Scapa 100 Hub: 12:00 to 18:00 (Warehouse Buildings).
Stromness Museum Evening: Opening to 20.00. Summer exhibitions with resident experts on hand to talk about stories and artefacts.
Thursday 27
Scapa 100 Hub: 12.00 to 20.00 (Warehouse Buildings).
Scapa 100 Talk: 19:00, Warehouse Buildings, Stromness.
