War memorial with a lesson for today

Iconic vessel: Captain John Leach was among 840 sailors killed in the sinking of ‘HMS Prince of Wales’ (above) and ‘HMS Repulse’ during World War II.

KUANTAN: The unveiling of a memorial to the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse, which were sunk off the coast of Kuantan during World War II, is a lesson in history especially at a time when parts of the world are in conflict.

For Henrietta Wood (née Leach), her family’s history is inextricably tied to the history of the region as her grandfather Captain John Leach was the Prince of Wales’ commanding officer (CO) and among the 840 sailors who perished after both warships were sunk by Japanese aircraft.