Monitor HMS M33, only surviving warship from the Gallipoli campaign of World War I, has received £1.79m from the UK’s Heritage Lottery Fund to allow the ship to be restored in time for the 100th anniversary of the campaign.

GALLIPOLI VETERAN WARSHIP HMS M33 TO BE RESTORED IN TIME FOR CENTENARY

Monitor HMS M33 once shelled Turkish positions in the Dardanelles during the ill-fated campaign to advance up the peninsula, seize Constantinople and knock the Ottoman Empire out of World War 1.

For nearly 20 years, the gunship has been slowly undergoing restoration work in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard just a stone’s throw from Nelson’s Victory.

That work should now be completed – allowing the public to go aboard M33 for the first time – as the Heritage Lottery Fund has earmarked £1.79m for the restoration project.

Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing along the news.