Community

Milford Haven remembers Royal Navy tragedy shrouded in wartime silence

Published

3 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

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)

Community

Donations in Matt Baker’s memory support local mental health charities

Published

21 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FAMILY of Matt Baker, affectionately known as “Mr Good Times” of Haverfordwest, has presented donations to three local mental health projects during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Matt passed away in March aged 49, and his funeral in April drew hundreds of mourners. In his memory, the Baker and Oostermeijer families collected donations to support causes close to Matt’s heart.

This week, £700 cheques were presented to two well-known Pembrokeshire organisations: Get The Boys A Lift and The VC Gallery. Both groups work extensively with people experiencing mental health challenges, offering safe spaces, support sessions, and community outreach.

A further donation was made to Bro Cerwyn Hospital, where Matt had spent ten months receiving care. The family gifted a Yamaha electric piano, complete with stool and headphones, in the hope that music can bring comfort and joy to patients.

Phyllis Oostermeijer, Matt’s mother, said: “We as a family would like to thank everyone concerned. Truly amazing – and I trust it will do a lot of good. Perhaps every now and again a pianist can go to the hospital and play for the patients. Matt would like that.”

The gesture comes at a time when mental health support services across Wales continue to be stretched, with charities and community organisations increasingly relied upon to bridge the gap.

Reuben Baker and Aad Oostermeijer, Matt’s brother and stepfather, attended the cheque presentation at The VC Gallery alongside representatives from the supported organisations.

Matt’s legacy of positivity, compassion, and community spirit continues to make an impact – not just on those who knew him, but on the many people these donations will go on to help.

Photo caption:
In memory of Matt: The Baker family present £700 to The VC Gallery during Mental Health Awareness Week (Pic: Supplied)

Community

First Minister joins war graves tour in Milford Haven

Published

2 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Visit marks 80th anniversary of VE Day

FIRST MINISTER, Eluned Morgan, visited Milford Haven on Saturday (May 10) as part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) For Evermore Tour, commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The First Minister was joined by Pembrokeshire County Councillor Guy Woodham and Milford Haven Town Councillor Colin Sharp during a visit to Milford Haven Cemetery, where they paid tribute to local war dead.

Led by CWGC guide Grahame Owen, the tour highlighted the personal stories of those who served and died in the two world wars, including many from Pembrokeshire. The CWGC maintains records of over 1.7 million Commonwealth service personnel who lost their lives in the conflicts.

Reflecting on the event, the First Minister said: “We must never forget the sacrifices of past generations. VE Day was a moment that changed lives, changed Wales, and changed our world. This tour showed how war touches every street, every village, and every family. Over 15,000 Welsh people never came home.”

The For Evermore Tour is part of a nationwide initiative to ensure younger generations learn about the impact of global conflict on local communities.

The CWGC encourages the public to search its free online records to discover stories from their own families and communities, helping to keep the memories of the fallen alive.

The First Minister thanked all those who took part in what she described as a “moving and important” event.

Photo caption:
Remembering the fallen: First Minister Eluned Morgan joins local councillors in Milford Haven Cemetery on Saturday (Pic: MHTC)

Charity

Community groups invited to bid for new £3,000 fund

Published

10 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Visit Pembrokeshire and holidaycottages.co.uk launch joint initiative to support local charities

COMMUNITY organisations and charities across Pembrokeshire are being invited to apply for a share of £3,000, following the launch of a new funding initiative aimed at supporting grassroots projects across the county.

The Visit Pembrokeshire Community Fund, launched in partnership with holidaycottages.co.uk, will award three grants of £1,000 each to local groups whose work directly benefits the area. The deadline for applications is 7 July 2025.

Organisers say the fund is designed to support projects that help strengthen communities, enhance the environment, and boost the local economy. Suggested uses for the grant include the creation of community gardens, accessible signage such as braille and town trail maps, and new seating in public spaces—though innovative ideas are also encouraged.

The initiative marks the start of a new partnership between Visit Pembrokeshire and holidaycottages.co.uk, part of the Travel Chapter group, which aims to deliver tangible benefits to the places most popular with visitors.

Serena Pearce, Regional Communities Manager at Travel Chapter, said:

“We are incredibly excited to be launching this community fund with Visit Pembrokeshire. At holidaycottages.co.uk, we are passionate about supporting the communities where we operate, and we take great pride in giving back to the places our guests love to visit.

“By investing in local projects, we hope to create lasting, positive impacts that help towns and villages thrive and remain cherished destinations for both visitors and residents. We can’t wait to get started and make a difference together.”

Emma Thornton, CEO of Visit Pembrokeshire, added:

“This partnership reflects our shared vision for Pembrokeshire to be a global leader in regenerative tourism. That means ensuring the visitor economy delivers a net positive for the people who live and work here, as well as those who visit.

“We’re grateful to holidaycottages.co.uk for joining us in this effort, and we look forward to seeing the impact of this collaboration.”

Holidaycottages.co.uk has already supported a number of community initiatives in the region, most recently sponsoring the Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim, which raised over £30,000 for local causes.

Applications for the Visit Pembrokeshire Community Fund can be submitted online. Full details, including eligibility criteria and the application form, are available at:
👉 www.visitpembrokeshire.com/industry/community-fund-initiative