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)

SHADOW Rural Affairs Minister Samuel Kurtz MS has urged the UK Chancellor not to sacrifice British farming standards as trade negotiations with the United States continue this week.

The intervention comes as Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves visits Washington for her first in-person meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The meeting is part of early-stage discussions aimed at forging a UK-US trade agreement.

The Herald understands that the UK government is hoping to secure tariff relief on a number of goods still affected by duties imposed during the Trump administration. However, recent signals from US negotiators suggest that any such deal could require the UK to allow imports such as chlorine-washed chicken—currently banned in Britain.

Chlorine-washing is a process used in parts of the US poultry industry to disinfect meat that may have been exposed to poor hygiene conditions. Critics say it masks low welfare and sanitation standards that would be illegal under UK regulations.

Speaking this week, Mr Kurtz said: “British consumers and farmers expect better. Chlorine-washed chicken isn’t just a food safety issue—it’s a red flag for low animal welfare. Allowing such products into our market would fly in the face of everything we ask our own farmers to uphold.

“Our food producers work tirelessly to meet some of the highest standards in the world. Undermining them with a trade deal that rewards countries cutting corners is short-sighted and shameful. It’s not free trade—it’s a free pass for poor practice.”

He added: “If the UK is serious about food security and sustainability, then we must stand by the people who grow our food. That means defending British farming in the negotiating room—not bargaining it away behind closed doors.”

Senedd Member backs STUN’s £500k alternative to protect coast without harming village

SENEDD Member Paul Davies has joined growing opposition to Pembrokeshire County Council’s £40 million Newgale road realignment, branding the project “ill conceived” and urging the authority to reconsider a more affordable, environmentally sensitive alternative drawn up by the local community.

The Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project (NCAP), developed by the council in partnership with consultants AtkinsRéalis, proposes rerouting the A487 inland through the Brandy Brook valley. The scheme is aimed at mitigating future storm damage and sea-level rise, but critics say it will devastate the landscape, split the village in two, and waste tens of millions of pounds.

Mr Davies is working with the Newgale campaign group STUN (Stand Up for Newgale), who have drawn up a rival plan costed at just £250,000–£500,000. Their proposal would see a 400-metre stretch of the existing shingle bank moved around 10 metres seaward, maintaining the existing A487 route and drastically reducing environmental and financial impact.

“I’m very disappointed that the Council is pushing ahead with its plans rather than working with the community on a much more affordable scheme,” Mr Davies told The Herald. “We know the Council is struggling financially and yet somehow, it’s content to find millions of pounds for a scheme that the local community opposes.

“In my view, Pembrokeshire County Council’s plans are ill conceived. Any changes to the infrastructure in Newgale must meet the needs of the local community and should aim to be as environmentally sensitive as possible. I’ve raised this at the Senedd, and I will be doing so again, urging the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to intervene and support the local community.”

‘We just want the council to talk to us’

The STUN proposal includes drainage measures, improved beach access for disabled users, and avoids any disruption to existing businesses such as the Duke of Edinburgh pub, surf shop, and campsite. It also claims to meet every target laid out in the Welsh Government’s Future Generations Act and Net Zero commitments—unlike the council’s more invasive plan.

Expert: Council’s modelling is flawed and alarmist

STUN’s report is backed by a detailed independent assessment from STUN’s Chair, Professor David Keeling, a retired academic who examined the coastal data underpinning the council’s justification for the new road. He concluded that the predictions of the shingle bank migrating inland were “unnecessarily alarmist” and based on “extreme upper-end climate scenarios” that do not reflect local conditions.

Professor Keeling states that moving the shingle bank 10–12 metres seaward would delay any significant landward movement by at least 80–100 years, while allowing real-time monitoring of sea level changes in future.

Historical evidence ignored, say campaigners

The group’s report also highlights historical records, dating back to 1795, showing that storm damage to the A487 from pebble over-topping has occurred only a handful of times in centuries—and was always remedied quickly and cheaply.

The 2014 overtopping event that prompted the NCAP plan, for example, incurred a one-off clean-up cost of just £13,000. STUN argues that even if such events doubled in frequency, it would still be more cost-effective to maintain the existing road than to spend £40 million on a new one.

Professor Keeling told The Herald that the council has ignored legally required procedures and failed to properly engage with local people.

“We want the council to communicate with us and properly assess our alternative plan,” Prof. Keeling said.

“Realigning the shingle bank 10 metres seaward would protect the road for the next 80 to 100 years, improve beach access, and save tens of millions of pounds that nobody in the village wants to see spent on a new road through Brandy Brook,” he added.

Local business owners worried

Local surf shop owner Rhys Morgan told The Herald: “This road scheme could finish us. Most of us here would rather see that money spent protecting the beach and improving access—not destroying what makes Newgale special.”

Legal concerns over council’s process

STUN has also raised concerns that Pembrokeshire County Council may have breached its obligations under the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. They claim that their realignment proposal was never properly considered at any stage and was later dismissed on a technicality.

The group is calling on the council to restart the decision-making process, re-evaluate the modelling data, and consult the public on the cheaper, less destructive option.

Consultation open until May 11

The statutory pre-application consultation on the NCAP scheme remains open until 11th May 2025. Residents are being urged to submit feedback and demand that all options—particularly the STUN proposal—are properly reviewed.

How to have your say:

Email: Newgale@atkinsrealis.com
Post:
Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project Team
AtkinsRéalis
Floor 4, West Glamorgan House
12 Orchard Street
Swansea
SA1 5AD

Online: www.newgalecoastaladaptation.co.uk

Printed copies of the consultation documents can also be viewed at St Davids Library, City Hall, SA62 6SD:

Tuesday: 10:00am–1:00pm and 2:00pm–5:00pm

Thursday: 10:00am–5:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am–12:00pm

With mounting public opposition, academic backing, and growing political scrutiny, pressure is building on Pembrokeshire County Council to revisit its controversial plan—and engage with the community before it’s too late.