Relatives of 13 Torfaen men who died in the Llandow Air Disaster gathered yesterday in The Greenhouse pub for the 75th anniversary and to see a commemorative plaque be unveiled.
On 12 March 1950, a flight from Dublin to Cardiff carrying 83 rugby fans, who had been to watch Ireland v Wales, crashed while coming into land at the Vale of Glamorgan airfield.
Bertie John Butcher, the landlord of The Greenhouse pub was killed with 79 others, including six regulars from his pub. His wife described him as “the life of the village.”
Three men from Blaenavon, one from Varteg, one from Garndiffaith, and one from Abersychan also died.
‘The world’s worst air disaster’
At the time it was the world’s worst air disaster.
Cwmbran Historical Society organised today’s event following detailed research into the local men and their lives, tracking down their relatives, unearthing eyewitness accounts of the crash, reports of their funerals, and details of the crash inquiry.
Dawn Jones, from the society, thanked Stuart and Pam Cameron for their painstaking work gathering all of the facts to make the event possible.
Lyndon Edwards, the landlord of The Greenhouse, kindly introduced me to Robin Irving-Lewis, the son of William Herbert Irving, an RAF Squadron Leader who won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in World War II, but died at Llandow.
Mr Irving-Lewis and Sue, his wife, travelled over 700 miles from The Mainland, Orkney Islands, to be at the service.
He said he was born in Llantarnam, near the Abbey, and his family moved to Pontnewdd: “He shouldn’t have really been on the flight. He actually swapped tickets with someone whose son was ill. He should have been on the first flight but he went on the second flight.
“He organised the whole trip from here [The Greenhouse], a big rugby fan.
“I’m 80 this year so I was four when it happened. I don’t remember that much about him. I do remember bits and pieces but you get to a stage where it’s ‘is it something I remember, or is it something I’ve been told’. It was meant to be I’m afraid.”
I asked him how he felt when he heard what Cwmbran Historical Society was planning.
He said: “It was fantastic organisation. Thanks to the people we know and have met and are here. It’s tremendous. I think it’s important. It’s a part of Welsh history.”
Sue said: “It’s a tribute to the people who are descended from or related to the people who lost their lives. This is important for that reason.”
‘Not forgotten’
Rachel Bide, daughter of Arthur Harry Crawshay-Williams, an accountant who joined the army in 1939 where he “rose to the rank of captain and served in Egypt in 1944” and was “praised for his integrity.
She said: “Seeing my fathers’s photograph and those of his lost friends displayed on this plaque is certainly something none of us left would have ever expected. But it is heartening to be physically reminded that these seven local men and the six from the north of the Eastern Valley are certainly not forgotten.
“It is clear to us that behind the production of this plaque lies a lot of hard work and commitment by many individuals and organisations including those at the Greenhouse Inn.
“We, the families of the casualties, ask Cwmbran Historical Society that have been so kind in their willingness to support this initiative, to also pass on thanks to those associated with the organisation of today’s event, we are deeply grateful to all concerned. Thank you all so much.”
‘An unexpected tragedy’
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Torfaen MP, shared stories about the men and their lives.
He said: “In 1950, rugby fans left this valley to experience the special atmosphere of a live sporting occasion standing next to the thunder of activity on the pitch and saw Wales win the Triple Crown that day. We should remember too, that flying itself was in its infancy then as a commercial venture.
“Many of the passengers would have been first-time fliers and that in itself would’ve generated its own excitement. What is more difficult to understand is why what should have been a happy event, an unexpected tragedy happens.
“We can send a clear message to the family members that as the people of the Eastern Valley stood by the families then, so the people of the Eastern Valley stand by them today, all these years later. We will never forget them. And we can all say, I think, that the plaque that is here will ensure that their memories will always live on.”
‘Served in WWII’
Martin Wade, from the 614 County of Glamorgan Squadron RAF Reserves, said: “Our squadron was based in Llandow at the time and our people were the first on the scene for the rescue after the crash. But also, our Commanding Officer at the time Bill (William) Irving organised the trip from the Greenhouse and was sadly one of the people killed in the crash so the event holds an enormous amount of poignant for us. It’s great to be here today.
“Squadron Leader Irving’s son, Robin and his wife Sue came to see us at our squadron headquarters this morning [Friday 14 March] and we were delighted that he could officially open a newly-refurbished conference named in his father’s honour.
“We had a plaque on the wall and some explanatory notes to tell people exactly what his role was because he served with us in the Second World War. He survived so many dangerous missions over Europe and North Africa only to die going to watch a rugby game so it’s so poignant to be here today.”
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 Torfaen 𝐦𝐞𝐧 who dies in the Llandow Air Disaster
- Bertie John Butcher from Llantarnam, 61
- John Thomas Emlyn Williams from Llantarnam, 34
- William Joseph Nicholas from St Dials, 41
- William Joseph Stevens from Llantarnam, 25
- David Derfel Jones from Coed Eva, 44
- Arthur Harry Crawshay-Williams from Llantarnam, 33
- Squadron Leader William Herbert Irving DFC from Pontnewydd, 31
- Charles Henry Turner from Abersychan, 26
- Ronald James Price from Garndiffaith, 25
- George Burnett from Garndiffaith, 24
- William Colin Jenkins from Blaenavon, 31
- Albert A Smith from Blaenavon, 37
- Edgar Watkins from Blaenavon, 36