One of the worst naval disasters in the UK happened 100 years ago today in the Cromarty Firth.
On December 30, 1915, HMS Natal was blown up by its own ammunition, causing the deaths of more than 420 people.
The ship’s captain, Eric Back, had organised a Christmas film show for guests on board, which included seven wives of officers, three children, one civilian and nurses from the nearby ship Drina.
After the explosion, survivors were pulled from the icy waters, but darkness made rescue difficult and many sailors drowned.
Initially it was thought the ship had been torpedoed by German U-boats, but it was later discovered that its ammunition had ignited – possibly due to faulty cordite, which is a shell propellant.
It was unusual for a naval disaster in that it happened within close proximity to communities such as Cromarty and Invergordon, and that there were civilian casualties, including children.
Some sailors survived because they were playing a game of football in Cromarty at the time of the explosion, and saw the aftermath on the way back. Another survivor was the ship’s cat.
The vast majority of the 414 naval casualties are commemorated at three memorials at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham.
However, there are 15 graves of men who served on HMS Natal at Cromarty Cemetery, and more at Rosskeen Parish Church.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has encouraged local residents to visit the graves to mark the centenary today.
A ceremony was also held in September, with Captain Back’s granddaughter Rosalind Cahill and other relations of victims attending a memorial service at Invergordon, before laying wreaths above the area where the vessel was lost.