Landewednack – St. Wynwallow Churchyard & War Memorial

The three CWGC headstones in the churchyard are all Merchant Navy men who died during the early years of the Second World War.  Sadly, only one is identified.  Two of them were members of the crew of the S.S. Gairsoppa, torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea by a U-Boat on 16th February 1941.  Tragically both men survived the sinking only to drown at the last minute, after two weeks adrift in a lifeboat, trying to reach the shore and safety.  In 2011 the wreck of the Gairsoppa was located, and plans are ongoing to recover its cargo of silver bullion, estimated to be worth £150 million.

RADIO OFFICER R. F. HAMPSHIREMERCHANT NAVY S.S. "GAIRSOPPA"u/k16/02/1941

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