On 21 June 1919, shortly after the end of the First World War, the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet was scuttled by its sailors while held off the harbour of the British Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. The fleet was interned there under the terms of the Armistice of 11 November 1918 while negotiations took place over its fate. Fearing that either the British would seize the ships unilaterally or the German government at the time might reject the Treaty of Versailles and resume the war effort (in which case the ships could be used against Germany), Admiral Ludwig von Reuter decided to scuttle the fleet. Intervening British guard ships were able to beach some of the ships, but 52 of the 74 interned vessels sank.

Miles Harwood describes the episode in his latest composition. A slow sunrise is followed by a chorus of seagulls before the horns and whistles of the German ships interrupt the calm and herald the stately arrival of the German fleet. A decorated version of the German National Anthem ends abruptly as the ships’ sluices are opened by the German sailors enabling the slow descent of the vessels to the bottom of the sea (‘Scuttle’). A lament for the demise of the warships is heard. At its conclusion, the British sailors on the quayside grasp what is happening and dash about wondering what to do (‘Quayside Bustle’). The reaction of the Royal Navy is depicted in music by the nautical song ‘The Saucy Arethusa’. Finally, the waters close over the sunken ships as the last strains of the lament are heard.