MORE than 200 people attended a service commemorating a wartime maritime disaster at Freshwater West, in which 79 servicemen died, last Saturday morning, April 25.
Only three people survived the sinking of two Landing Craft Guns Ls 15-16 and the HMS Rosemary on April 25, 1943.
In 2000 a simple stone memorial was erected in the car park at Freshwater West.
For the 70th anniversary of the disaster in 2013, Dai Boswell, District Parade Marshall for Pembroke Dock, and a Pembroke town councillor, commissioned two new plaques bearing the names of all servicemen that died.
Speaking after the event, Dai Boswell said: “It was absolutely fantastic; there were 23 standards on the parade from all over, along with a colour party from the fire service and Sergeant Major Gareth Thomas of the Royal Marines first landing craft squadron, who came up from Devon.
“We even had a gurkha there and there were groups from Anzacs, the Sea Cadets, the ATC and the Army Cadets.
“It was absolutely brilliant, everybody complemented us on a good turnout; I was very pleased.
“The plaques are there forever for everybody to see; every year it will be the same, we’ll have our service to remember the 79 that have lost their lives.”
Cllr Boswell was later presented with a plaque by Sgt Major Thomas in recognition of his tireless work for a permanent commemoration for the disaster.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here