Snobbery and a cover-up following an avoidable catastrophe.
An investigation into the fund that was set up to assist the naval and civilian dependents of those who died in the submarine Thetis lost on trials in 1939. Apart from the incompetence and regard more for the value of the ship than the lives of those aboard, the disaster fund was sparingly issued to the poorer dependents. The judge high-handedly refused tiny amounts of money while naval personnel, especially officers were more generously treated. The balance,still a huge sum essentially disappeared into an insurance company. The War provided a suitable diversion for subsequently hiding the affair and the enquiry as to the disaster.