HMS Dasher Memorial, South Beach 8
29 March 2009
On the afternoon of Saturday
27 March 1943, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Dasher was sailing in the
Clyde Estuary between Ardrossan and Arran. At 4.40 pm, there was an enormous
explosion. Within a short time, the ship sank. Of the 528 men on board, 379
were killed by the blast or drowned. The memorial stone and plaque, in the Sunken
Gardens on South Beach, were unveiled on 27 March 1993, exactly fifty years
after the tragedy. Every year since 2000, there has been a commemoration service
on the Sunday of or before 27 March. The picture above was taken during the
2009 service. The Isle Of Cumbrae Royal British Legion Scotland Pipe Band accompanied
by members of the British Legion and Sea Cadet Corps, marched to and played
at the beginning and end of the service. The service was conducted by Canon
Matt McManus, shown above speaking into the microphone, Parish Priest of the
Church of Saint Peter in Chains.
Sarah Seggie
played the Last Post and the Reveille
on the trumpet and Pipe
Major David Mitchell played the lament, Flowers of the Forest, on the bagpipes.
Floral tributes were laid by survivors
of the Dasher, their familes, the
British Legion, the Sea
Cadet Corps, Provost
Bobby Rae shown above beside Canon McManus and the Police. Refreshments were
later served to participants in Saint
Peter's Parish Centre.