Hello Adrian,
apwright wrote: ↑07 Sep 2020, 18:13
1.
I think I have found the names and ranks of the victims, but there are two paragraphs, one either side of the names, for which I would like a translation, if at all possible, or just the main points.
第2特務艦隊戦没者墓碑建設ノ沿革
客歳6月榊多島海域ニ於テ敵潜水艇ト交戦シ艦長以下59名壮烈ナル戦死ヲ遂クルヤ当時戦死者ノ遺骨ノ一部ハ不取敢クリート島スーダ湾英海軍基地ニ仮ニ合葬シアリシモ同地ハ戦後邦人ノ足跡ヲ絶チ右墳墓ハ将来顧ミルモノナキニ至リテハ甚ダ遺憾ニ付之ヲ我艦隊ノ根拠地タルモルタ海軍墓地ニ遷シ当艦隊戦没者全部ノ合葬ヲナシ墓標ヲ建設シ永遠ニ帝国海軍戦死者ノ英名ヲ伝ヘントシ昨年8月9日建設費支出方当局二謀リシニ快諾ヲ得タルヲ以テ艦隊司令部ノ設計ニ基づキ在モルタ石工「ダルマニン」商会ノ手ニヨリ同年10月30日起工本年6月10日竣工 榊戦闘遭難一周年ナル6月11日ヲトシ盛大ナル納骨式ヲ執行せり当日ハ恰カモ前例ナキ我艦隊艦船偶然ニモ全部モルタニ集合シタリシタメ此ノ盛典ニ一層ノ栄ヲ加ヘタリ
2nd Special Squadron War Dead Tombstone Construction History
In June of last year, Sakaki fought an enemy submarine in the archipelago area and 59 people including the captain died.
They were temporarily buried at Sudan Bay British Navy Base on Crete Island, but it was a pity if they are forgotten because few Japanese visit there.
So we decided to bury the dead and build a tomb in Malta, the base of Squadron, to honor them.
Therefore, we decided to bury the Imperial Japanese Navy war dead in Malta, the base of 2nd Special Squadron, build a tombstone in order to honor them.
In August of last year, we asked the authorities to pay for the construction of the tombstone, and we got the consent, so the Mason “Dalmanin Trading Company” started construction on October 30th and was completed on June 10th based on the design of Squadron Headquarters.
On June 11th, the 1st anniversary of the Sakaki distress, we held a magnificent skeleton basin ceremony. All the ships of the Squadron gathered there and added more honor to the ceremony.
第2特務艦隊戦没者墓碑再建ノ沿革
当初の墓碑
第1次世界大戦中、日英同名の大義のもとに第2特務艦隊は、地中海に派遣され連合国艦隊との協同作戦に献身した。中でも第2駆逐隊榊は大正6年6月10日、英国輸送船を護衛中多島海セリゴット島東方海域においてドイツ潜水艦と交戦し、艦長以下59名壮烈な戦死をとげるにいたった。その遺骨はとりあえずクレタ島スーダ湾の英国海軍基地に仮埋葬されていたが、同地が僻遠で日本人の訪れることも少ないため墳墓が将来忘れ去られることを慮り、特務艦隊の基地であった当マルタに移し、他の戦没者と合祀して永久にその栄誉を伝えることとした。墓地は英国海軍の好意によりこの地を選定、また墓碑は第2特務艦隊司令部の設計に基づき在マルタダルマニン商会が完成し、大正7年6月11日、艦隊の全艦参加のもとに盛大な納骨式が行われた。今上陛下は大正10年皇太子として欧州方面ご訪問の途次、軍艦香取及び鹿島にて当地に寄港され、4月25日墓前に花環を捧げられた。
墓碑の再建
降って第2時世界大戦中、墓碑は爆撃の被害を受けたほか次第に衰朽が加わり、修復することが困難になった。よって日本国政府は、墓地全体の設計、墓碑の形状等できる限り原型の再現を期しつつ新たに再建することとした。 (昭和48年)
The 2nd Special Fleet War Dead Tombstone Reconstruction History
Original tombstone
During World War I, under the cause of the Japan-British Alliance, the Second Special Squadron was dispatched to the Mediterranean Sea and dedicated to cooperative operations with the Allied Fleet.
Among them, the 2nd Destroyer Division Sakaki engaged a German submarine in the eastern sea of the island of Serigotto, the Archipelago Sea while escorting British transport ships on June 10th, 1917 and 59 persons including the commander were killed in battle.
The remains were temporarily buried at a British naval base in Suda Bay, Crete, but Japanese people rarely visit there, fearing that the tomb will be forgotten in the future.
So it was decided to move it to Malta, the base of the Special Squadron, and worship with other war dead to honor them forever.
The cemetery was selected by the Royal Navy's favor, and the tombstone was completed by “Malta Dalmanin Trading Company” based on the design of the 2nd Special Squadron Headquarters. A grand ossuary ceremony was held.
On June 11th, 1918, a grand ceremonial ceremony was held with the participation of all ships in the squadron.
Emperor Showa, as a crown prince in the Taisho era, visited Malta on the way to Europe in the warships Katori and Kashima, and dedicated a flower ring to the tombstone on April 25th, 1921.
Reconstruction of the tombstone
During the Second World War, the tombstone was damaged by the bombing and gradually deteriorated, making it difficult to repair it.
Therefore, the Government of Japan decided to rebuild the graveyard as much as possible while recreating the original shape as much as possible. (1973)
You quoted the Momo accident report.
There is another Kashiwa accident report.
https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/met ... 6%E7%86%8A&
According to these, the outline of the accident was as follows.
(During World War II, the overseas Japanese Navy used Japan Standard Time rather than local time. I'm not sure this was the case.).
Momo and Kashiwa escort the British convoy between Malta and Portside.
On October 24th, at 11:10 am, the first sailor Takemura Kitamura was drowned in the waves at 18°31 east longitude and 34°1 north latitude. Lieutenant Junior Grade 龍崎留吉 Ryusaki Tomekiti, a 当直士官
shift officer, immediately stopped the ship and searched, but could not find him and stopped the search at 11:50.
At 9:05 pm, 21°16 east longitude, north latitude 33°48, Momo first sailors Yuji Ise and Ota Nakabei were drowned in the waves. The cutter was washed away with the sailors. Since the sailors could not be found despite the creation, the search was stopped at 10:25 pm.
fontessa