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Memorial for crew lost on D-Day Landing craft LCT 427 in Solent | Memorial for crew lost on D-Day Landing craft LCT 427 in Solent |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A memorial service has been held for the servicemen who died when a World War II landing craft sank in the Solent during World War II. | |
Landing craft LCT 427 was returning to Portsmouth on 7 June 1944 after taking tanks to Gold beach in Normandy. | Landing craft LCT 427 was returning to Portsmouth on 7 June 1944 after taking tanks to Gold beach in Normandy. |
Four miles from shore it collided with battleship HMS Rodney and was sliced in half. All 13 crew died. | Four miles from shore it collided with battleship HMS Rodney and was sliced in half. All 13 crew died. |
The Southsea Sub-Aqua Club discovered the wreck in August and began a search for relatives or comrades of the crew. | The Southsea Sub-Aqua Club discovered the wreck in August and began a search for relatives or comrades of the crew. |
Only one body was ever recovered, the other 12 were lost with the craft. | Only one body was ever recovered, the other 12 were lost with the craft. |
Sea wreath laying | Sea wreath laying |
Alison Mayor, who led the diving team, said as a result of the campaign, relatives of nine of the 13 crew had contacted the club and five families planned to attend the memorial. | |
Other D-Day veterans and divers from Southsea Sub-Aqua Club also took part. | |
A boat took 22 of them from Portsmouth dockyard to the site of the wreck to lay wreaths for the crew who lost their lives in the tragedy. | |
It was followed by a short, traditional service at St Ann's church in Portsmouth Naval Base. | |
Former Midshipman Paul Butler, from Bledington, Gloucestershire, gave a reading at the church service. | |
He was on another LCT returning as part of the same flotilla and believes he signalled LCT427 just before the accident. | He was on another LCT returning as part of the same flotilla and believes he signalled LCT427 just before the accident. |
Among others attending were the former fiancé of Wireman Kenneth Sumner, from Wilmslow, Cheshire. | |
Remained missing | Remained missing |
He was the only crew member recovered from the sea that night but died two days later. His grave is at the Royal Naval Cemetery in Haslar, Gosport. | He was the only crew member recovered from the sea that night but died two days later. His grave is at the Royal Naval Cemetery in Haslar, Gosport. |
The remaining crew were reported as missing, presumed killed, and none of the relatives were told about what had happened. | The remaining crew were reported as missing, presumed killed, and none of the relatives were told about what had happened. |
Many relatives went on believing they had been lost in Normandy, until the wreck was found by divers this summer. | Many relatives went on believing they had been lost in Normandy, until the wreck was found by divers this summer. |
It was identified at a depth of 30m (100ft) during Southsea Sub-Aqua Club's diving survey and historical research in the Solent area. | It was identified at a depth of 30m (100ft) during Southsea Sub-Aqua Club's diving survey and historical research in the Solent area. |
The two pieces lay upright several hundred metres apart in the busy main shipping channel approaching Portsmouth and Southampton. | The two pieces lay upright several hundred metres apart in the busy main shipping channel approaching Portsmouth and Southampton. |
The area is normally out of bounds for diving, but the club was given special permission by Portsmouth Harbour Master. | The area is normally out of bounds for diving, but the club was given special permission by Portsmouth Harbour Master. |
Sub Lieutenant Frank Freeman, 20, from Nottingham was another crew member who died in the tragedy. | Sub Lieutenant Frank Freeman, 20, from Nottingham was another crew member who died in the tragedy. |
After Ms Mayor appealed on BBC Radio Nottingham, the son of one of Sub Lt Freeman's cousins, Richard Graine, contacted the BBC saying: "I was always aware of pictures of Frank and that he died on D-Day, but that's all I knew. | |
"To think you are home safe and then this happens, it's very sad." | "To think you are home safe and then this happens, it's very sad." |
Relatives of Hallam Carr, Eric Fields, David Spillane, Kenneth Sumner and Joseph Whitfield were attending the memorial. | Relatives of Hallam Carr, Eric Fields, David Spillane, Kenneth Sumner and Joseph Whitfield were attending the memorial. |