Brawdy (St. David’s Church) Military Burials

Brawdy is situated at the northeast corner of St Brides Bay. The southern half of the parish is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and includes the villages of Penycwm and Newgale, and the hamlets of Eweston, Tancredston, and Trefgarn Owen. During the second half of the 20th century, it was home to a large Fleet Air Arm Station, HMS Goldcrest, and later became an RAF Station, before the base was given over to the army, and renamed Cawdor Barracks. Over the years several members of the forces who died while on service at Brawdy were buried within the cemetery at St. David’s Church. These personnel are commemorated below.

Brawdy (St. David’s) Church Military Graves

Robert Keith Baird, Warrant Officer, Q4061160, Royal Air Force. Robert was born on 31 December 1932, and died on 23 March 1983, aged 50.

William Walter Barrett, NAM(AE) 1, F962069, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. William was born on 17 January 1941, and died on 21 May 1960, aged 19.

Oswald Brown, Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy, HMS President. Oswald was born on 29 July 1927, and died on 31 August 1961, aged 34.

Roland John Cope, Leading Mechanic (E), 068808, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Roland was born on 22 February 1947. He was one of three men from Brawdy who drowned following an accident at Penycum on 15 March 1968. Roland was 21 years old.

Robert Gifford Dale, Lieutenant, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Robert was born on 3 January 1929, and died on 27 September 1954, aged 25.

Terence David Flinn, Lieutenant, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Terence was born on 5 January 1938. He was one of three men who died when their Westland Whirlwind Helicopter crashed during an air-sea rescue training flight on 24 July 1963. He was 25 years old.

David George Hakesley, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. David was born on 19 February 1936, and died at Brawdy on 25 May 1956, aged 20.

David Kelvin Hodges, Midshipman, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. David was born on 17 May 1946. He was killed while pilot training, after being forced to eject over St. Bride’s Bay from his stricken Hawker Hunter T8C, Serial WV367, on 23 November 1965. David was 19 years old. His fellow crewman Lt R C Rance survived.

John Richard Holland, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy, RNAS Brawdy. John was born on 6 December 1947. He was one of two men killed in an air crash on 6 May 1970, aged 22.

Stuart Clive I’anson, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy, RNAS Brawdy. Stuart was born on 20 February 1946. He was one of two men killed in an air crash on 6 May 1970, aged 24.

Derek Cyril Lawrence, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Derek was born on 23 September 1920, and died on 7 October 1954, aged 28.

Norman Richardson MacKay, Lieutenant, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Norman was born on 9 October 1918, and died on 9 October 1953, aged 35.

Hugh James Mansel-Smith, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Hugh was born on 10 December 1945, and died on 3 March 1969, aged 23.

Jeremy Seymour Nicoll, Lieutenant, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Jeremy was born on 31 May 1932, and died on 9 December 1957, aged 25.

Robert Graham Skelton, Naval Airman 1, F967936, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Robert was born on 10 January 1939. He was one of three men who died when their Westland Whirlwind Helicopter crashed during an air-sea rescue training flight on 24 July 1963. He was 24 years old.

Lyndon Theobald, Senior Aircraftsman, J8191915, Royal Air Force, HMS Brawdy. Lyndon was born on 9 January 1959, and died on 19 February 1984, aged 25.

Rodney Timms, Naval Airman 1, F973530, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Rodney was born on 1 April 1941. He was one of three men who died when their Westland Whirlwind Helicopter crashed during an air-sea rescue training flight on 24 July 1963. He was 22 years old.

Robert Frank West, Electrical Mechanic (A), 108606, Royal Navy, HMS Goldcrest. Robert was born on 28 July 1952. He died on 28 February 1970, aged 17.

Other Goldcrest Casualties

Over the years that RAF Goldcrest was active, there were several other servicemen and women who died or were killed in aerial accidents, who were buried elsewhere. From 1943-1947 Goldcrest was based at Dale, while from 1947 onwards it moved to Brawdy. These include;

Francis Cyril Priter Buttress, Chief Petty Officer, D/J. 15809, Royal Navy. Francis was the son of John and Sarah Anne Buttress. He died at Dale on 19 June 1944, aged 48, and is buried at Marloes (St. Peter) Churchyard.

Enid Fuelle Davies, Wren, 87329, Women’s Royal Naval Air Service. Enid was the daughter of David J. Davies and Elizabeth Davies, of Bathpool. She died at Dale on 6 November 1947, aged 21, and is buried at West Monkton (St. Augustine) Churchyard, England.

Alan Charles Thomas Parkes, Able Seaman, D/JX. 792328, Royal Navy. Alan was the son of James Leonard and Doris Parkes, of New Oscott, Birmingham. He died at Dale on 18 December 1947, aged 19, and is buried at Dale Church Cemetery.

Iris Betty Stillman, Wren, 81113, Women’s Royal Naval Air Service. Iris was the daughter of Charles and Eveline May Stillman, of Ely, Cardiff. She died at Dale on 24 April 1947, aged 19, and is buried at Llantrisant (Ss. Illtyd Gwynno and Tyfodwg) Churchyard, Wales.

After the move to Brawdy casualties continued, mostly due to training accidents:

Robert Mark Armitage, Midshipman, Royal Navy. Robert was born on 3 October 1936, and died while flying from RAF Valley aboard a De Havilland Vampire F.b. 5 on 19 April 1956, when it crashed into a ridge in Snowdonia. Robert was 19 years old.

Frank Badcock, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Frank was born on 8 April 1927, and died at Brawdy on 16 March 1956, aged 28.

John William Baker, Leading Telegraphist, JX 889693, Royal Navy. John was born on 31 May 1934. He died at Brawdy on 16 February 1961, aged 26.

Kenneth Stephen Ball, Radio Electrical Artificer (A) 2, F969825, Royal Navy. Kenneth was born on 9 July 1942. He died on 2 January 1968, aged 25, and is buried at Littleover Parish Church, Derby.

Ronald Joseph Betts, Electrical Artificer (A) 2C, F 969631, Royal Navy. Ronald was born on 29 January 1941. He died at Brawdy on 6 November 1970, aged 29.

Robin Alastair Bremner, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Robin was born on 9 April 1946, and died when his Hawker Hunter GA11, Serial WT805 lost formation in heavy cloud, and crashed into the sea in St. Bride’s Bay on 22 February 1967.

Patrick Joseph Brown, Leading Airman (M), F931694, Royal Navy. Patrick was born on 15 August 1932. He died at Brawdy on 18 March 1965, aged 32.

Michael Herbert Burns, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Michael was born on 26 January 1935, and died at Brawdy on 2 February 1956, aged 20.

Michael John Crisp, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Michael was flying as a student when he died in an air crash at Brawdy which also killed his instructor, Brian Devine, on 15 December 1967.

Roy Davies, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Roy was born on 23 February 1930, and died on 12 October 1956, aged 26. He is buried at Maeshyfryd Cemetery, Holyhead, Anglesey.

Peter George Day, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Peter was born on 25 July 1948. He died at Brawdy on 6 November 1968, aged 20.

Brian George Devine, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Brian was born on 17 May 1941. He was flying as an instructor when he died in an air crash at Brawdy which also killed his student, Michael Crisp, on 15 December 1967. He was 26 years old.

Daniel Cornelius Ferguson, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Daniel was one of two men killed when their aircraft crashed into St. Bride’s Bay on 23 February 1965.

Charles Ernest Gray, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Charles was born on 17 August 1928. He died on 5 July 1965, aged 36, and is buried at Arbroath, Scotland.

Alan Howarth, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Alan was born on 20 February 1930, and died on 5 July 1958, aged 28. He is buried at Chichester.

Arthur William Jeffery, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Arthur was born on 16 April 1927, and died at Brawdy on 28 September 1956, aged 29.

Roy Johnson, Petty Officer (A), FX 888806, Royal Navy. Roy was born on 10 July 1934. He died on 20 December 1969, aged 35, and is buried at Haverfordwest (City Road) Cemetery.

Thomas Miall Llewelyn Leigh, Chief Petty Officer Aircrewman, FX 97069, Royal Navy. Thomas was born on 5 December 1921, and was one of three men who died during an air-sea rescue accident on 20 February 1958, aged 36.

Nicholas John Lipscomb, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Nicholas was born on 25 November 1934, and died in the crash of a Vampire in Anglesey on 12 December 1957. He is buried in Maeshyfryd Cemetery, Holyhead, Anglesey.

Bruce William Mallin, Naval Airman 1C (A.E.), F 973839, Royal Navy. Bruce was born on 12 February 1942. He died at Brawdy on 5 August 1961, aged 19.

David Stainthorpe McIntyre, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. David was one of two men killed when their aircraft crashed into St. Bride’s Bay on 23 February 1965.

John Mark Mitchell, Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. John was born on 13 May 1933, and died at Brawdy on 4 August 1956, aged 23.

James Brian Neville, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. James was born on 17 June 1925, and was one of three men who died during an air-sea rescue accident on 20 February 1958, aged 32.

Jeremy S. Nicholl, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Jeremy died on 9 December 1957.

James Nixon, Leading Steward, LX 859938, Royal Navy. James was born on 13 March 1931. He died on 25 January 1967, aged 36, and was cremated at Swansea Crematorium.

Gordon Palfrey, Mechanic (E) 1C, 068601, Royal Navy. Gordon was born on 20 April 1947. He was one of three men from Brawdy who drowned following an accident at Penycum on 15 March 1968. Gordon was 20 years old.

John Michael Fellowes Prynne, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy. John was born on 9 March 1935, and died on 3 March 1958, aged 3 March 1958, aged 22.

Alfred Trevor Rice, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Alfred was born on 15 March 1929, and died on 31 May 1957, aged 28. He was cremated at Canley Crematorium, Coventry.

James Baird Aitken Stansfield, Air Mechanic 3, FX 88645, Royal Navy. James was born on 3 July 1932, and was one of three men who died during an air-sea rescue accident on 20 February 1958, aged 25.

David John Starling, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. David was born on 13 October 1940. He was flying a Hawker Hunter from RAF Brawdy on 29 September 1966 when the engine caught fire. David was killed when he ejected from the stricken aircraft. He was 25 years old and is buried at The Royal Naval Cemetery, Yeovilton, Somerset.

John Barry Taylor, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. John was born on 27 February 1933, and died on 3 January 1957, aged 23. He is buried at Maeshyfryd Cemetery, Holyhead, Anglesey.

Paul Charles Tombs, Mechanic (E) 2, 064170, Royal Navy. Paul was born on 19 January 1945. He died on 23 March 1963, aged 19, and is buried at Barry, Glamorgan.

Gordon Walker, Mechanic (E) 1C, K974952, Royal Navy. Gordon was born on 14 August 1942. He was one of three men from Brawdy who drowned following an accident at Penycum on 15 March 1968. Gordon was 25 years old, and was buried at Ossett Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Eric Webb, Sick Berth Attendant, D/MX 899037, Royal Navy. Eric was born on 14 June 1937, and died on 23 February 1959, aged 21.

Ronald John White, Aircraft Artificer 4C, FX 82483, Royal Navy. Ronald was born on 8 August 1924. He died on 13 May 1963, aged 38.

John Stuart Wrighton, Aircraft Artificer 2C, 071781, Royal Navy. John was born on 17 October 1945. He died at Brawdy on 18 December 1968, aged 23.

McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom Tragedy

Also Brawdy would be the scene of a very sad and public air accident on 24 July 1986. A McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom from 10th TRW, USAF was giving a display at the Brawdy Air Show, and was preparing for a high speed run when it disappeared from view, and crashed into the sea in St. Bride’s Bay. The navigator was reported as having ejected, but the pilot did not. The men were 31 year old Captain Mark Makowski (Pilot) and 24 year old Second Lieutenant Dewayne Danielson (Navigator).