Sailors from a Royal Navy destroyer have paid their respects to their forebears in a moving ceremony in the Far East.

HMS Exeter fulfilled the last wish of former senior rating Henry ‘Pash’ Baker, who asked that his ashes be scattered over the wreck of the battlecruiser HMS Repulse, where his comrades lie.

In 30 years in the Royal Navy, Mr Baker, who lived in Gravesend, Kent, described his time in Repulse as his fondest.

The ship was sunk with in company with battleship HMS Prince of Wales in December 1941 after sailing from Singapore to halt Japanese landings.

“It was an honour to be able to fulfil the final wish of Mr Baker and his family. I know they have been waiting for several years for a suitable opportunity,” said Exeter’s Commanding Officer Cdr Mark Durkin.

“The special bond between those who serve in the Royal Navy was demonstrated by Mr Baker’s desire to be laid to rest with his colleagues.

“We give thanks for the sacrifice of those who served in World War II, especially those who did not make it home.”

Exeter is continuing her steady progress eastwards – making new friends and welcoming old ones as she goes.

The warship visited Chennai (formerly Madras) on the east coast of India at the end of April, during which 30 of her ship’s company of 263 visited the Cheshire Madras Home, a refuge for around 80 of the city’s poorest residents, to help revamp the site.

Orphans in this, one of the world’s largest cities with a population of 16 million, were delighted to welcome sailors from the Royal Navy’s veteran destroyer.

After giving the home an overhaul by painting part of the building, the sailors enjoyed some free time with the youngsters in a local swimming pool.

“We had a fantastic day helping these families and orphans,” said an overwhelmed Lt Richard Bartram, Exeter’s Lynx pilot.

“The kids were great fun and really appreciated us helping them out and taking some time to play with them.”

As Exeter left Chennai she exercised with Indian Navy ships, then it was on to Singapore for further war games, this time with vessels from Australia (HMAS Arunta), Singapore and Malaysia.

The games – Exercise Bersama (Malay for ‘friendship’) Shield – gave Cdr Mark Durkin the chance to welcome an old friend on board.

Admiral Raydon Gates of the Royal Australian Navy had been CO of HMAS Adelaide when Cdr Durkin was on a two-year exchange with the Aussies, and he spent time as Adelaide’s Principal Warfare Officer (Air).

Exeter has already taken part in a number of high-profile exercises and port visits on her voyage east on one of the plum deployments by a British warship in 2004.

Visits to Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan are all lined up before the Falklands veteran turns and heads for home, via Malaysia once more for an even larger exercise.

The ship is due back in Portsmouth in November.