THE wreck of the troop-ship Mendi, pictured, off the Isle of Wight in 1917 has been been declared an official war grave. (see Daily Telegraph March 19) 646 drowned in the disaster.

During a visit to Southampton General Hospital with a relative, I visited the cemetery nearby and discovered thehuge memorial wall detaining the names or nick-names of all involved; some were nameless “native labourer”. The memorial also included a contingent of the Britsh West Indies Regiment, who also perished in the Solent.

A most poignant memorial to an otherwise forgotten episode.

PAUL A NEWMAN, Winchester.