Wartime disaster remembered (From Western Telegraph)

Wartime disaster remembered

OVER 100 people attended the annual wreath laying ceremony at the weekend commemorating the loss of 79 men in the landing craft disaster of 1943.

Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel in the ill-fated LCG 15 and LCG 16 and a whaler from the sloop HMS Rosemary, which went to their aid, died when their vessels foundered in a storm off the South Pembrokeshire coast.

An impressive ceremony, when seven wreaths were laid and six standards were present, was held at the Freshwater West memorial, with the largest attendance for many years. The ceremony was conducted by Canon Alan Thomas of Pembroke Dock, and the Rev A.J. Turner and three local mayors and RNA members laid the wreaths.

A brief ceremony was also held at the memorial at Milford Haven, when the Mayor, Royal British Legion and Landing Craft Gun and Flak Association representatives laid the wreaths.

Caption: Ex-Marine Reg Woodfine, of Worcester, is pictured laying one of the Milford Haven wreaths, on behalf of the Landing Craft Gun and Flak Association, watched by the Mayor, Councillor Molly Pritchard; Mrs Glenys Jones, secretary, Landing Craft Gun and Flak Association; Mr Doug Joyce, life president of Milford Haven British Legion branch, and Father Edward Mathias-Jones, chaplain. PICTURE: Kevin McCauley.