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Pembrokeshire Herald
08-05-2025
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Pembrokeshire RNLI crew's valiant WW2 rescue attempt without a lifeboat
Angle RNLI volunteers and aerodrome men rushed to the coast as 72 died in one of the worst maritime disasters of the war IT was Easter Sunday, 25 April 1943, when tragedy struck off the Pembrokeshire coast in one of the deadliest non-combat maritime disasters of the Second World War. With gale-force winds battering the cliffs and wild seas pounding the shore at Freshwater West, two heavily laden landing craft were caught in a storm they were never designed to survive. By the end of the night, 72 young servicemen were dead. The two vessels, LCG 15 and LCG 16, were Landing Craft Guns—flat-bottomed ships hurriedly converted from tank carriers to floating gun platforms. They had left Belfast en route to Falmouth, carrying Royal Navy sailors and nearly 70 Royal Marines, bound for the upcoming Allied invasion of Sicily. Neither craft had undergone sea trials. When the weather deteriorated in Cardigan Bay, they requested permission to take shelter at Fishguard and later Milford Haven. For reasons never properly explained, both requests were refused. As the landing craft battled mountainous seas, they began shipping water through large, uncovered deck spaces—areas that had been left open during their rushed conversion. Many aboard had already expressed concerns. Some joked the gaps could serve as swimming pools; others warned they were death traps. By the time the vessels reached the waters off Freshwater West, they were floundering. The RNLI lifeboat from Angle was undergoing repairs and could not be launched. But this did not stop the crew, members of the Angle Lifesaving Company, and men from the nearby Angle Aerodrome from rushing to the beach and cliffs to attempt a rescue. Without a lifeboat and with no equipment capable of battling such violent seas, they could only watch in horror as LCG 15 disappeared beneath the waves. Her companion, LCG 16, managed to stay afloat until later in the night, but it too was eventually lost. The bodies of marines and sailors were later pulled from the sea and recovered from the surrounding rocks. Many were never found. It was, and remains, one of the most tragic maritime losses in West Wales, made more devastating by the knowledge that it might have been avoided. In the midst of this disaster, further tragedy unfolded. HMS Rosemary, an old Royal Navy sloop returning to Milford Haven after convoy duty, was diverted to the scene. Spotting LCG 16 still afloat off St Ann's Head, the crew of the Rosemary attempted a rescue. But the seas were too rough to pass a line. With the men aboard the LCG waving desperately for help, six sailors from the Rosemary volunteered to take the ship's small whaler and try to reach the landing craft. The tiny boat was launched and quickly lost from view in the storm. Moments later, a massive wave overwhelmed it. All six volunteers drowned. Not long after, LCG 16 also went down. To this day, questions remain. Why were the landing craft allowed to sail in such condition? Why was shelter denied in Fishguard and Milford Haven? An official inquiry took place, but with the war ongoing, it was quickly buried. No one was held accountable. High on the dunes above Freshwater West, a small memorial stands as the only public marker of the disaster. For those who know the story, it serves as a poignant reminder—not only of the 72 men who died, but of the Pembrokeshire villagers and airmen who ran to help without hesitation, despite having no lifeboat, no weapons, and no way to save the doomed crews beyond watching and mourning. In the annals of wartime heroism, the efforts of the people of Angle that Easter night deserve to be remembered. Even without a boat, they stood ready. Pictured above: An annual memorial service is held to remember those who died in the tragedy (Image: Martin Cavaney) The Pembrokeshire Herald's coverage of the VE Day 80 commemorations are kindly sponsored by PMR
Pembrokeshire Herald
25-04-2025
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Trefin to host VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations
LANDING CRAFT DISASTER CLAIMED 79 LIVES AS PORT REFUSED ENTRY IN STORM A SOLEMN memorial service was held at Milford Haven Cemetery on Wednesday (April 23) to remember the victims of one of the Royal Navy's most tragic and little-known disasters—an incident in April 1943 which claimed the lives of at least 79 men, many of whom are buried in the town. Officiated by Reverend Father Andrew Johnson of St Katharine and St Peter's Church, the annual service drew a respectful gathering of veterans, civic leaders, cadets, and members of the public, all committed to ensuring the men lost that night are never forgotten. The Mayor of Milford Haven, Councillor William Elliott, laid a wreath at the memorial alongside cadets Leading Cadet Sophie Jarrett of the Milford Haven Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets, and Patrol Leader Joshua Evans of the 2nd Milford Haven Sea Scouts. The forgotten disaster of April 1943 On the night of April 25–26, 1943, two Royal Navy vessels—Landing Craft Gun (Large) 15 and 16, known as LCG(L) 15 and LCG(L) 16—found themselves in peril off the Pembrokeshire coast during a fierce Atlantic gale. Originally built as tank landing craft by Harland & Wolff in Belfast, they had recently been refitted with heavy guns for the Allied invasion of Sicily. Flat-bottomed and top-heavy, they were not designed for rough seas, and their decks quickly flooded as waves battered them in the night. Seeking shelter, both vessels requested permission to enter Fishguard harbour—but were inexplicably refused. They then attempted to make safe haven in Milford Haven. Once again, entry was denied. By the time the vessels reached the waters off Freshwater West, both were in critical danger. LCG 15 was the first to go down, around 11:00pm. LCG 16 remained afloat slightly longer, but was lost soon after midnight. Men were thrown into the freezing, raging sea. Survivors were few. Witnesses at the Angle Aerodrome and from the nearby Angle lifeboat station watched helplessly. Tragically, the lifeboat could not be launched—it was undergoing repairs. HMS Rosemary's doomed rescue attempt The old sloop HMS Rosemary was returning from convoy escort duties when she encountered the unfolding tragedy. The crew attempted to rescue those on LCG 16, firing lines in a desperate effort to reach the sinking vessel. When those failed, six sailors volunteered to take out the small whaler boat to make the perilous crossing by hand. The whaler capsized in the storm. All six men drowned. In total, at least 79 Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel perished in the disaster. A Board of Enquiry was convened, but no public explanation was ever given as to why safe harbour was denied. No one was held accountable. A tragedy long kept quiet The scale of the loss was not made public until weeks later, when the issue was raised in Parliament. The First Lord of the Admiralty at the time confirmed that a Board of Enquiry was examining the incident, but a full report was never released. Wartime censorship meant families received limited information, and the public remained unaware of the tragedy for decades. Some of the fallen were laid to rest in their hometowns. Others were buried in Milford Haven Cemetery. Many are still listed as 'missing, presumed killed' and commemorated on the naval memorials at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham. Among the local burials are: Marine Leslie V. Brackley (CH/X 2851) Lieutenant Douglas A. Burgass (RNVR) Marine Peter Campbell (CH/X 2848) Marine Frederick W.C. Derrick (PO/X 114089) Ordinary Telegraphist James McArdle (C/JX 358916) Able Seaman Geoffrey Lambert (P/JX 143261) Marine Percy W.J. Howard (CH/X 111751) Marine James Sigley (PLY/X 109057) Marine Charles W. Gordon (CH/X 109418) A full list of casualties and their burial or commemoration locations has been compiled by naval historians and volunteers, with the assistance of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Local remembrance and national silence Wednesday's service was organised by Milford Haven Town Council. Among those in attendance were Sir Francis Newing, County Councillor Terry Davies, Carys and Siân from Milford Haven Town Band, and representatives from Tom Newing & Sons Ltd Funeral Directors. The Yellow Rose Florist Gift Shop provided a floral wreath. Speaking at the service, Councillor William Elliott said: 'It is a source of pride and sorrow that Milford Haven bears the memory of these lost men. We gather not only to remember them but to remind the world of a tragedy that should never have happened.' Father Andrew Johnson offered prayers and a reflection on lives lost at sea, calling on all present to 'carry the memory of the brave with dignity and purpose.' Commemoration continues Freshwater West is now home to a memorial above the beach, not far from where the ships went down. The cemetery in Milford Haven also bears a permanent tribute. However, historians and relatives continue to call for greater recognition. The Herald understands that efforts are underway to campaign for a formal apology from the Ministry of Defence for the denial of harbour access and lack of accountability. A special event is also being considered to mark the 85th anniversary of the disaster in 2028. Photo caption: We will remember them: A wreath is laid at the Milford Haven Cemetery during Wednesday's memorial service (Pic: MHTC)
