The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £1.75million to the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) to restore and open to visitors for the first time in its history, HMS M.33. Launched in May 1915, she is the sole remaining British veteran of that year’s Gallipoli Campaign and the only British warship from the First World War that will be open to the public during the Gallipoli Centenary next year.

NMRN and Hampshire County Council have worked as partners to develop the £2.4million ‘Commemorating Gallipoli – the HMS M.33 Project’ in order to conserve, restore and interpret HMS M.33.  The ship sits in No.1 Dock alongside HMS Victory in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

When open, visitors will start their journey through HMS M.33 with a 6 metre descent into the bottom of the dock before stepping aboard. This new entrance will provide a unique view of the hull of the ship and of No.1 Dock, the scheduled ancient moment in which she is berthed. New interpretation, including a stunning immersive battle experience, will bring to life HMS M.33’s history, the stories of the men who served on board, and the history of the Gallipoli Campaign.

Matthew Sheldon, Project Director, said: “HMS M.33 is a small ship but has a big history. It will be wonderful to open the ship to visitors next year on her centenary – finally we’ll be able to share the story of her part in the Gallipoli Campaign, and reveal what it was like for the 72 crew who were crammed on board."

The Gallipoli Campaign, fought between April 1915 and January 1916 in what is now modern day Turkey, claimed over 100,000 lives of personnel from all round the world.  HMS M33 is a Monitor of 568 tons.  With her shallow draft she was able to get close – in to shore and fire at targets on land.  She carried two powerful and oversize 6” guns but was a basic metal box lacking in comforts. The 72 officers and men who sailed for the Gallipoli Campaign were crammed inside and away from home for over 3 years.

After the War in 1919 she was refitted and returned to action in the Russian Civil War, where she covered the withdrawal of Allied and White Russian troops from North Russia during the Dvina River Campaign. Following her return from Russia, she spent the rest of her active life in Portsmouth Harbour.

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said: “The role of the Royal Navy in the First World War deserves to  be much better known.  Now, thanks to Lottery money, visitors to M33 will be able to the learn more about the crucial part it played during the War, particularly at Gallipoli, alongside experiencing first-hand something of the conditions in which sailors lived and fought.”

Professor Dominic Tweddle, Director-General National Museum of the Royal Navy, said, “Next year HMS M.33 will be the only British warship of the First World War that the public can get on board. We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has made this grant to the NMRN to conserve and restore the ship – she will be a permanent commemoration and a reminder that the First World War took place at sea just as much as on land.”

Commemorating Gallipoli – the HMS M.33 Project is part of the NMRN’s wider Great War At Sea 1914 – 1918 programme to mark the Royal Navy’s First World War. It will be also accompanied by the special exhibition, Gallipoli: Myth and Memory opening in March 2015. For more information visit the National Museum of the Royal Navy website.

Councillor Keith Chapman, Executive Member for Culture Recreation and Countryside at Hampshire County Council, said: “This is excellent news for HMS M.33.  The county council saved her in 1990 and it is very rewarding to see that years of dedication are paying off and she is now well on the way to being open to the public as a permanent attraction of the NMRN.  She is an important part of local and national maritime history and we continue to work with our partners to complete this project and ensure her story, and the stories of those who served on her, are preserved for future generations.”

Notes to editors

Through its museums, the NMRN preserves the history and tells the story of the Royal Navy – on the sea, under the sea, in the air and on the land, for the benefit of today’s and future generations.

Our ships and submarines include Admiral Lord Nelson’s, world famous flagship HMS Victory; HMS Caroline and HMS. M.33 the nation’s only surviving First World War ships; HMS Alliance, the only surviving WW2 era ocean going submarine, Holland 1, Britain’s first submarine Holland 1 and HMS Trincomalee and LCT7074.

The personal stories of survival, bravery, adventure and everyday life across the last 800 years of the Royal Navy is also told in our magnificent Museums; National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth, Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower, Royal Marines Museum and Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton.

Further information

HLF press office: email: Natasha.Hughes@hlf.org.uk or 020 7591 6143, mobile: 07973 613 820.