Lamphey churchyard has a WWI grave for an unknown seaman whose body was washed ashore at Freshwater East a few weeks after the sinking of an American Coast Guard Cutter, TAMPA. The ship was sunk by a German U Boat on 26th September 1918. There were no survivors.

On Sunday, September 23, to mark the centenary of this tragedy, Lamphey Church held special prayers to remember the sacrifice of the unknown sailor and his 130 shipmates (made up of 116 American Coast Guards and Navy men and 16 British soldiers, sailors and civilians).

The church welcomed three American Coast Guards, who are based in England on an exchange visit with the British Navy – DCC Michael Jones, YN1 Kimberley Timmerman and MK1 Krispin Barrett.

They had travelled a long way to be with us. Michael Jones presented the church with a plaque from the US Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association and Enlisted Association.

The plaque expressed the thanks of the associations for the years of care provided by the church in tending the grave. In addition to the plaque, the church received a generous donation from the associations towards the upkeep of the churchyard.

During the service, conducted by Revd Peter Jones, prayers were said by Simon Thomas, the chaplain to the Missions to Seamen. The service was also attended by David James.

Mr. James has assisted in making better known the two Pembokeshire graves relating to bodies washed ashore 100 years ago following the action of a German U Boat which torpedoed both the TAMPA and a Japanese ship, HIRANU MARU within a few days of each other.

Deanna Groom, a researcher with RCAHMW (Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales) travelled from Aberystwyth to attend the service and lay flowers at the grave. The Royal Commission is currently working on a project to trace the extent of U Boat activity around the coast of Wales during WW1.

On Wednesday, September 26, Lamphey Church was visited by Mrs. Lorraine Stableford (nee Hodge). Lorraine and her husband, Roy, made a special journey to Lamphey from their home in Leicester in order to lay a wreath on the Tampa grave.

This was done in memory of George and Henry Hodge, the two older brothers of Lorraine’s grandfather.

The brothers were both aboard the TAMPA on their way home after serving together in Gibraltar with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.

Lorraine placed two poppy crosses by the gravestone along with a poppy wreath and the churchwardens joined Lorrraine and her husband in prayers.