Notice the number of houses on the island?

In 1910, the number of residents on Flotta started to peak, at around 431 people. It was said to be booming with two blacksmiths, four carpenters, three dressmakers, a teacher, a doctor, a minister and a postmaster.

What is my relationship with Flotta?

My Grandad is my link to Orkney, his father's family had been on Flotta since at least the late 1600s and his mother's family moved from Stroma (a now uninhabited Island just off the coast of John O'Groats) to Flotta. My Great Grandparents were also the start of my family's departure off the Island, as they began to leave in search of stable jobs.

Notice the sucker ships, yeah those aren't submarines?

The body of water beside Flotta is called Scape Flow and it became a harbour for the British Navy during both world wars. Importantly, it was the location of The Scapa Flow Scuttling which increased the locations fame.

On 21 June 1919, 52 German war ships, part of the High Seas Fleet sunk their own ships as an act of sabotage once they realised the British Royal Naval would soon seize them. It was the single greatest loss of warships in history. Today, seven wrecks remain sunk. Two of my Great-Great Uncles, that served in WW1, upon returning worked salvaging these very shipwrecks.

What did the war mean for the Island?

The navy needs entertaining, infrastructure began to pop up all around, including a cinema, dance floor, gym and squash courts alongside the military bases.

The number of people on Flotta fluctuated throughout the wars, with plenty of temporary residents on and off the ships. High events were organised like the Grand Fleet boxing Championship outside the YMCA Hut, that was witnessed by as many as 10,000 people. Prince Albert was even present on this occasion.