ON Saturday April 25, a Remembrance Service was held at Freshwater West to honour and remember the brave men who lost their lives during a fierce storm whilst serving their country in 1943.

Blue skies and sunshine blessed the gathering as veterans joined with civic representatives and local residents to lay wreaths and say prayers of remembrance at the memorial that stands above the South Pembrokeshire beach. Standard bearers lowered standards, tributes were paid and the Last Post was sounded.

Henry Tufnell MP said: “I was honoured to attend a moving service at Freshwater West, remembering the sailors and Royal Marines who lost their lives in the 1943 landing craft tragedy off our Pembrokeshire coast.”

The tragedy was one of the county’s worst wartime maritime disasters. 79 Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel died when Landing Craft Gun 15 and 16 and a rescue boat from HMS Rosemary were lost in heavy seas in April 1943.

“We gathered as a community and observed a minute’s silence, paying tribute to their courage and sacrifice,” added Mr Tufnell.

“Their memory lives on and will never be forgotten.”

Jonathan Grimes - County Councillor for Pembroke St Mary South & Monkton, said it was “an absolute privilege” to be present at the service.