One to really think about!

[Derrick Stephenson]

To what am I referring?
An annual solemn event.
You need Heinz varieties minus 10.
A very pale American naval rank.
An arboreal member of the aristocracy.
Derrick.

[Bombardier]

Now this one is going to need some thinking about, perhaps our new american members could give us a hand with this one. bm;

[Derrick Stephenson]

Hi All,
Just remember, the Webmaster told Zofo I can be sneaky.
If you're mislead, it's not my fault!
Derrick.

[Derrick Stephenson]

Additional comments on two of my clues :
A memorial Service involving a Prince of Trees.
Sneaky.
sorry,
Derrick.

[Bombardier]

well the prince of trees as far as i am aware is the beech tree, am i right?

[Derrick Stephenson]

A little bit more obscure than that, Webmaster, you know me!!
Derrick.

[Bombardier]

Oh your sneakier than the sneakiest fox mr stephenson :lol:

[Bombardier]

Highland Sniper,
You are far and away the record holder for the no. of hits and answers for any single question

this ones gonna go that way i think LOL :?

[HighlandSniper58]

OK.......

It is clearly about HMS Royal Oak which was sunk by U-47 in Scapa flow on 14th October 1939. Annually Royal Naval divers replace the white ensign on theships flagstaff on the anniversary of her sinking.

[HighlandSniper58]

Sorry - I phrased that badly - it wasn't clearly about HMS Royal Oak at all, because it took me some searching to find out the details.

[Derrick Stephenson]

Hi Highland Sniper,
Top of the class.
H.M.S. Royal Oak was sunk by U 47 in 1939 with tremendous loss of life, the 1st. battleship sunk by a U-Boat.
Royal Navy divers replace her White Ensign every year.
Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

To say that took some serious web-searching was putting it mildly - a superb question Derrick, well done.