Wartime lifeboat heroes of Wales remembered on VE Day anniversary

Published

7 months ago

May 8, 2025

Welsh RNLI crews braved mines, storms and enemy fire to save lives at sea

AS the country marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is paying tribute to the bravery of its volunteer crews in Wales who served during the Second World War. From the storm-lashed coasts of Anglesey to the exposed lifeboat stations of Pembrokeshire and Gower, Welsh RNLI crews launched into perilous seas to save lives, often under enemy threat.

Between 1939 and 1945, lifeboats from stations across Wales were launched repeatedly to respond to wartime emergencies. Despite limited resources, ageing equipment and extreme danger, the RNLI never stopped saving lives. During the two World Wars combined, lifeboats around the UK and Ireland launched 5,478 times and rescued nearly 11,700 people.

A significant number of those launches came from Welsh waters.
One of the most remarkable Welsh rescues of the Second World War came in January 1940, when Moelfre Lifeboat Station, on the east coast of Anglesey, responded to a mayday from the SS Gleneden of Glasgow. The vessel was in trouble during a fierce northeasterly gale and very rough seas. The volunteer lifeboat crew, battling bitter cold and towering waves, managed to save all 60 crew members aboard the stricken ship. For their actions, Coxswain John Matthews was awarded the Silver Medal for gallantry, and Motor Mechanic Robert Williams received the Bronze Medal.

Crew at St Davids, seen walking up from the lifeboat station during WWII (Image: RNLI)

In December 1944, as the war was drawing to a close, another Welsh lifeboat launched into danger. The Mumbles lifeboat, Edward, Prince of Wales, responded to distress signals from the Canadian cargo vessel Chebogue, which had broken her back in hurricane-force winds off the South Wales coast. In a night-time rescue carried out under extraordinary conditions, the Mumbles crew saved 42 lives.

These heroic missions were carried out not by trained naval personnel, but by local men—fishermen, harbour workers, and retirees—who volunteered their time and risked their lives. With many young men serving on the front lines, lifeboat crews in Wales were often made up of older volunteers, with some in their fifties, sixties and even seventies stepping up to fill the gaps.

Wartime conditions made the work of the RNLI even more dangerous. Lifeboat stations were occasionally damaged or destroyed in air raids. In all, 40 RNLI crew members across the UK and Ireland died during the war, including those who were machine-gunned by enemy aircraft, blown up by floating mines, or lost during stormy rescues. Seven lifeboats were lost in action.

Although most of the RNLI’s wartime launches were in response to vessels in distress, the crews often found themselves navigating minefields, dodging enemy fire, and recovering the dead as well as the living. One Welsh example came from Courtmacsherry, across the water from Pembrokeshire, where 14 volunteers rowed 12 miles through calm seas without wind, only to find they were too late. Undeterred, they recovered the bodies and brought them home so that loved ones could bury them with dignity.

Wales also played its part in one of the most famous operations of the war—Dunkirk. In May 1940, 19 RNLI lifeboats were part of the fleet of civilian vessels known as the Little Ships that crossed the English Channel to rescue British troops stranded on the beaches of northern France. Lifeboats from Ramsgate and Margate were operated by RNLI crews who brought with them unfamiliar equipment such as steel helmets, gas masks, and extra supplies. They worked for over 30 hours amid wreckage, gunfire and strong currents. Although not from Wales, the spirit of this operation mirrored the courage shown by lifeboatmen in Welsh waters throughout the war.

To mark this VE Day anniversary, the RNLI is calling on the public to help uncover more stories connected to lifeboat stations in Wales during the war. A grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has made it possible for the charity to launch a new project: RNLI 1939–45: Stories of Courage. The project aims to record and preserve these memories before they are lost to time.

Hayley Whiting, RNLI Heritage Archive and Research Manager, said: “Our Welsh lifeboat crews experienced some of the most difficult years in the charity’s history. Lifeboats were damaged, lifeboat stations were hit, and lives were lost. But their determination never wavered. As we reflect on VE Day, we remember not just those who served on the front lines, but those who braved the storms at home to bring others back to safety.”

The Pembrokeshire Herald’s coverage of the VE Day 80 commemorations are kindly sponsored by PMR

Community

Wolfscastle farm’s new shed sparked ‘noise nuisance’ claims

Published

10 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE farmer “jumped the gun” in his enthusiasm to build a new cattle shed which includes ‘robot slurry scrapers’ that have been causing a noise nuisance for neighbours, county planners heard.

In a retrospective application recommended for approval at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Aled Jenkins sought permission for a replacement cattle housing and silage clamp at Upper Ty Rhos, Wolfscastle.

An officer report said Upper Ty Rhos consists of a herd of 630 youngstock beef cattle, the applicant seeking permission for the replacement 100-metre-long cattle housing building.

It said the building benefits from a robotic scraping system to internally clean it to improve animal welfare and efficiency.

However, the slurry scraper system in operation has been found to constitute a statutory noise nuisance.

“The introduction of the slurry scraper system has resulted in a new noise source to the locality that is having a significant detrimental impact upon local amenity. The nuisance noise is directly associated with the extended hours of operation of the slurry scraper system and the noise created by the two motors powering the system including the drive mechanism that moves the scraper through the building to remove slurry produced by the housed cattle.

“To further exacerbate the situation, the building has open voids to the eastern gable end, which is within close proximity to the neighbouring property resulting in the building being acoustically weak.

“An acoustic report has been submitted with mitigation methods provided including relocating motors and associated equipment into external enclosures, reduction of noise egress through openings by installing hit-and-miss louvres and/or PVC strip curtains and consideration of blocking the gap between roof pitches along the ridge of the building.”

Three letters of concern were received from members of the public raising concerns including visual and environmental impact, noise issues and a potential for the herd size to increase.

Speaking at the meeting, neighbour Dr Andrew Williams, who stressed he was not seeking to have the shed removed, raised concerns about the noise from the ‘robot scrapers,’ exacerbated by cattle being concentrated in the immediate area from the wider farm complex.

Agent Wyn Harries addressed concerns about the retrospective nature was a result of over-enthusiasm by his client who “jumped the gun”.

He said there was now a scheme that was “fully worked through,” dealing with noise and other issues.

Members backed approval, which includes noise mitigation to address the impact of the robot scrapers; one member, Cllr Tony Wilcox, abstaining on the grounds of the retrospective native of the building “the size of a football field”.

Crime

Man accused of Milford Haven burglary and GBH remanded to Crown Court

Published

12 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared in court charged with burglary and inflicting grievous bodily harm, following an incident at a flat in the town earlier this week.

Charged after alleged attack inside Victoria Road flat

Stephen Collier, aged thirty-eight, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, Dec 5). Collier is accused of entering a property known as Nos Da Flat, 2 Victoria Road, on December 3 and, while inside, inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man named John Hilton.

The court was told the alleged burglary and assault was carried out jointly with another man, Denis Chmelevski.

The charge is brought under section 9(1)(b) of the Theft Act 1968, which covers burglary where violence is inflicted on a person inside the property.

No plea entered

Collier, represented by defence solicitor Chris White, did not enter a plea during the hearing. Prosecutor Simone Walsh applied for the defendant to be remanded in custody, citing the serious nature of the offence, the risk of further offending, and concerns that he could interfere with witnesses.

Magistrates Mr I Howells, Mr V Brickley and Mrs H Meade agreed, refusing bail and ordering that Collier be kept in custody before trial.

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court under Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Collier will next appear on January 5, 2026 at 9:00am for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing.

A custody time limit has been set for June 5, 2026.

Chmelevski is expected to face proceedings separately.

News

Woman dies after collision in Tumble as police renew appeal for witnesses

Published

13 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for information after a woman died following a collision in Tumble on Tuesday (Dec 2).

Officers were called to Heol y Neuadd at around 5:35pm after a collision involving a maroon Skoda and a pedestrian. The female pedestrian was taken to hospital but sadly died from her injuries.

Dyfed-Powys Police has launched a renewed appeal for witnesses, including anyone who may have dash-cam, CCTV footage, or any information that could help the investigation.

Investigators are urging anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have captured the vehicle or the pedestrian on camera shortly before the collision to get in touch. (Phone: 101 Quote reference: DP-20251202-259.)