
New memorial of the Samtampa Disaster
Representatives from the RNLI and the wider community attended an unveiling of a new monument commemorating the Samtampa Disaster at Rest Bay.
Located at the Watersports Centre, the memorial is made up of four inter-connecting parts resembling the prow of the ship (the hull under the bow) and even includes original parts of the wreckage.
The £70,000 memorial was organised by the SHOUT group, who raised the money with funding from the National Lottery, Bridgend County Borough Council and other private donors.
The memorial remembers the events on the night of 23 April 1947, when the SS Samtampa and the Mumbles Lifeboat Edward Prince of Wales were lost in one of the most tragic maritime disasters in British history.
In hurricane-force winds, in a powerful tidal surge, just 30 miles from its destination, the vessel broke apart on Sker Point. All 39 crew members were stranded, with no hope of rescue from land due to the ferocious conditions.
The Mumbles Lifeboat Edward Prince of Wales launched, battling extreme winds, tidal spray, and oil slicks. Despite their efforts, all eight volunteer lifeboat crew and the crew of the Samtampa were lost.
Gary Victor, Project Manager, Shout Group, said:
'I knew about the SS Samtampa disaster as a historical event, but it is such a strong story – it’s such an epic event – and there is very little information about it. People come in their thousands to Porthcawl and go back home without ever knowing about it. I thought that was wrong and wanted to make a change.'
Gerry Coad, Chair of The Mumbles Lifeboat Management Group said:
'It was my pleasure to represent the Mumbles Lifeboat Station at the dedication of a sculpture to commemorate those that perished in this tragic event. I would like to thank the artist and all those involved in creating this memorial, thus ensuring that future generations will be aware of the tragedy that occurred and the bravery of those volunteer crew members who sadly lost their lives while attempting to rescue the crew of the Samtampa.'
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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