News, Prayer

St Mary Mortlake Remembers the Wangle III Tragedy

In August 1950 a group of ten Sea Scouts from the 1st Mortlake Group set sail for a trip to France. They arrived safely in Calais, but on the journey back home their boat, a “whaler” named Wangle III, disappeared completely and they never made it back to the English coast.

On Sunday 23rd October, St. Mary The Virgin, Mortlake held a special memorial section to remember the Scouts of the Wangle III during the Eucharist service. The service was attended by family members as well as Commissioners and other senior Scouters representing the District, the County and national headquarters.

In her sermon, Rev Canon Dr Ann Nickson recounts the tragedy and talks of God’s love.

Rev Canon Dr Ann Nickson’s sermon on the Wangle III tragedy.

The ten boys and men that perished in 1950 were: Lt. Cmdr. John Weeden (1917); William Patrick (Bill) Towndrow (1932); Bernard Bell (1924); Donald Edward (Olly) Amos (1924); Robert Edward (Bob) Walford (1933); Peter Frederick White (1932); Brian Alan (Soley) Peters (1933); William Woods (1934); Maurice Alan Percival (1934); Kenneth Black (1926). They were remembered individually in the Act of Remembrance:

Rev Canon Dr Ann Nickson leads the Act of Remembrance around the Scouts’ memorial.
Memorial to the Sea Scouts in St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake

Click here to read more about the tragedy.