Triple Drowning Tragedy at Langland by various authors
Header: Langland Bay
FORWORD
By Micheal Eames
Thankfully, we know have great lifeguards courtesy of the RNLI, prior to this the fantastic Langland Lifeguards run entirely by volunteers, but although a fabulous beach, picturesque and fun, Langland has its dark side and can be dangerous if your not aware of its currents, please pay attention to the guidance given by the lifeguards, teach others what to do if caught in a rip and most of all respect the bay !
Below is a tragic story of Langland 100 years past !
RNLI Lifeguard
Cambrian Daily Leader, report of the drowning on Monday, June 9, 1924 from Local Historian Ian Bates.
June 9th 2024 marked the centenary of
The Langland Bay Tragedy
The Langland Bay Tragedy
Whit Monday, June 9th 1924 and holiday crowds are leaving Langland Bay early in the evening as rain starts to fall and the dark sky threatens a greater downpour. The sea is described as unfit for bathing but two young men decided they would take their chance. Patrick Williams, son of the Vicar of Oystermouth was a poor swimmer and decided to remain in the shallows while his friend John Peacock decided to venture further out and was soon in difficulties. Pat Williams became aware of his friend's distress and raised the alarm. Crowds quickly gathered at the water's edge and two brave souls, Mr Clifford Harcourt and Mr. Thomas Evans rushed to Peacock's aid, barely taking time to throw off their coats.
The tragedy was appalling, relatives and friends of the two would-be rescuers could do nothing as they watched young Peacock and their loved ones being swept away. All three bodies were eventually recovered and Cliff Harcourt and Tom Evans had heroes funerals. Tom Evans left a very young daughter, his wife, her mother having died in childbirth. Cliff Harcourt had married his sweetheart less than four years before and she, poor girl was cradling his coat as she saw him for the last time. Decorated for bravery in the first war, Cliff was also a violinist in the Manhattans Dance Band. A charity was set up for the families and both Tom Evans and Cliff Harcourt were recognised by The Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, a trust set up in recognition of those who died 'As The Result of an Endeavour to save Human Life'.
Joyce Hewett, the daughter of Thomas Evans looks back at that tragic time -
At the age of three, I did not of course understand what was going on on the day of the tragedy, but I do remember going to the Langland Bay Hotel, where there was a Minister waiting.
Years later, my aunt told me that my grandmother literally tore her hat to shreds, as she stood on the beach, watching the tragedy unfold.
For some years after the tragedy, my grandmother told me that I regularly asked ‘Where is my Daddy?’
Our family always went for our picnics to Langland Bay. We did so, that fateful day, 9th June 1924, a Whitsun Bank Holiday. I was just three, so my memories are very limited and come partly from reading Press reports. But in the late afternoon, the rains came down, the sky darkened, and the tide was just turning, with a nasty undertow. There were two young men in the water, clearly in difficulties. My father and another man plunged into the water to rescue them. Many other people, including my father’s brother, waded out waist-deep in an attempt to rescue them all, but to no avail. The tides were just too strong. Both rescuers were drowned—Clifford Harcourt, and my father as was one of the boys, John Peacock. The other, Pat Williams (son of the Vicar of Oystermouth) revived, after resuscitation.
Born in 1921 in my grandparents’ home, I have lived all my life in Mumbles. My mother died of TB soon after my birth, and I was brought up by my grandparents at Coltshill House, West Cross.
After my mother’s death, my father, Thomas Evans lived with his sister in Landore, near where he worked as an engineman in one of the Swansea Valley collieries. He spent every weekend with us in Coltshill, and to this day I remember him arriving, every Friday, with a bar of chocolate for me.
Thomas Evans, who died age 37, from Landore, Widower, father of Joyce.
My father had served with the Royal Navy in the First World War World War, and I still have his hat-band HMS Centurion, (photo) and a letter commending his bravery in saving a man who had fallen overboard.
The Swansea Borough Treasurer Mr Wetherall set up a Fund to help the bereaved families. As a result, £600 was invested for me, which was a princely sum in those days—the price of a substantial house. Mrs Harcourt received the same sum.
In 1947, there was another sea tragedy. The entire Mumbles Lifeboat crew was lost, trying to rescue the crew of the Samtampa.
At that time, I was working in the Guildhall as Secretary to the then Borough Treasurer Mr Greaves. He called me to work on a Sunday (unprecedented!) to compile lists of all the victims and their dependants.
Mr Stuart Watson, the RNLI General Secretary, came down from London. For many weeks, I sat in on, and minuted, all the ensuing discussions about compensation for the victims’ families.
It was an upsetting and sad time for us all.
Later, I received from Mr Watson a copy of his book on the lifeboat service ‘Storm in the Waters’ together with this letter.
My Father’s Citation