Petition · past parliament

Rebury remains of WW2 Royal Navy sailors dug up by metal scavengers in Indonesia

Closed 3,270 signatures

What the petition asks

This petition calls on the Government to rebury the remains of British Royal Navy WW2 sailors, who died on HMS Exeter and HMS Electra, that were dug up and dumped in an anonymous mass grave in Indonesia by metal scavengers. We want these remains recovered and buried with the dignity they deserve.
Reports in the Guardian, the Dutch and Indonesian media state since 2014 up to 40 WW2 vessels in the Java sea have been partially or completely destroyed by metal scavengers. This includes the disturbing and dumping of remains of WW2 Royal Navy sailors, who died on British warships, HMS Exeter, HMS Electra and HMS Encounter in an anonymous mass grave.

The Guardian article is here

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/22/bodies-of-second-world-war-sailors-in-java-sea-dumped-in-mass-grave

Timeline

28 Feb 2018 Petition opened for signatures
28 Aug 2018 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 3,270
Status Closed
Opened 28 Feb 2018
Closed 28 Aug 2018

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.