Roche Castle

Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 16:14

1937 – The Roche Castle was a trawler, homeward-bound for Swansea, when she  was driven ashorei n heavy seas and fog onto rocks below Paviland.   The lifeboat was called but the vessel was too close under the cliff for them to help.   The Rhossili LSA struggled with dire conditions and difficult access and members of the team had to go out into the surf to get a line out to the ship.   Even then the ship was being thumped on to the rocks and the breeches buoy was whipping up and down.   In trying to get two men off at once, one man was flung out of the buoy and crushed between the ship and the rocks, and the other man, left hanging on the chair by one leg, was catapulted into the sea.   He was lucky to be dragged ashore by the District Officer who was swept off the rocks in his turn.   Finallythey and the rest of the crew of ten were rescued.   The Rhossili rocket crew were presented with the Board of Trade Wreck Shield for their 'magnificent work under trying conditions' and the District Officer was awarded a Silver Bowl for his leadership and courage. (Ref. 025)