A MEMORIAL service in Marloes has marked 80 years since the trawler the Gordon Richards was lost at sea.

On January 14, 1938, tragedy struck the trawler during extreme weather off Fastnet near Ireland.

The boat was not recovered and all crew were lost.

On Sunday, January 14, the congregation at St. Peter’s Church welcomed relatives to a special service to remember those who died.

The service was led by the vicar of St. Peter’s, Andrew Johnson, the organist was Ira Hemingway, and the Mayor of Milford Haven Cllr. Colin Sharp was present to represent the community where most of the crew had lived at the time.

Cllr Sharp read out the names of the ten crewmen, and a candle was lit by a relative.

For the four other crewmen, a candle each was lit by Ann Axford, whose great uncle managed Westfleet Trawlers at the time of the tragedy.

After prayers, a collection was taken, to be divided between the Fishermen’s Mission and the RNLI.

Following the Eucharist, relatives were able to meet - some for the first time - and share experiences of the tragedy, and also of their efforts to find out more about the Gordon Richards.

Among the lost crew was chief engineer James A Lewis.

His granddaughter Margaret Brace, from Llangwm, said the event was an important one.

Margaret previously attended a service in 1990, at which a stained glass window desinged by John Petts was unveiled.

Yvonne Evans, who organised the event, said the service went some way to establishing a memorial for all those lost.

The families are still hopeful of one day tracing a photograph of the Gordon Richards, previously known in Germany as the Gudrun.

It is also hoped that in time relatives of the four crewmen named below might come forward:

Bosun - Francis Allen, aged 56, Thomas Street, Grangetown, Cardiff, married, no children.

Deck Hand – L. A. Terporter, aged 19, single, St. Peter’s Road, Milford Haven

Second Engineer – Charles R. Orchard, aged 28, married, two children, Prospect Place, Haverfordwest

Fireman – E. R. Stephens, 23, single, Crundale Road, Rudbaxton, Haverfordwest.

Any information can be forwarded care of this newspaper to Margaret Brace or Yvonne Evans

Both are very grateful for all the assistance in this research received to date., and to all those who helped make the service so special for all present.