50th anniversary of the Cromwell Weir Tragedy marked to remember volunteer soldiers from the 131 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers, who died

f.burrows@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 14:01, 29 September 2025

| Updated: 10:16, 30 September 2025

Veterans and families have come together to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cromwell Weir Tragedy and remember the ten men who died.

On September 28, 1975, 11 volunteer soldiers from the 131 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers, were taking part in the “Trent Chase”, a night navigation exercise along the River Trent, when the assault boat they were travelling in was swept over the crest of the weir — there was only one survivor.

The tragedy had an enormous impact on the soldiers’ home town of Falkirk, in Scotland, but also on the community of Newark which dealt with the aftermath as the Police and Army attempted to piece together what had happened.

Veterans of the parachute regiment and commandos gather at Cromwell Lock to mark 50 years since the tragedy. Photo: Newark Advertiser/Fionn Burrows.

50 years on from the tragic events of that night, over one hundred people, including veterans and serving members of the armed forces, gathered at the lockside, surrounding the memorial stone which had been erected in remembrance of those who died.

The anniversary service was organised by Mike Holdsworth, who led the tributes, before prayers and the names of those who died were then read out:

• Raymond Buchanan, 20

• Norman Bennet, 20

• James Black, 18

• Stuart Evenden, 22

• Peter Evenden, 19

• Ian Mercer, 17

• Alexander O'Brien, 18

• Terry Smith, 20

• Ronald Temprell, 26

• Joseph Walker, 21

The sole survivor, Patrick Harkin, died in 2012.

Flight Sergeant Bob Danes is lowered from an RAF helicopter over the capsized boat at Cromwell Weir, in 1975. Photo: Newark Advertiser Archives.

The army and the police work together to establish what has happened. Photo: Newark Advertiser Archives.

A special moment came from Retired Colonel Bill Pagan, who had been the regiment’s recruiting officer and spoke of the families’ courage in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“I recruited all ten of them,” he said. “We were a small, close knit unit, and knew each other well.

“Acting as families officer after the accident, and organising the funerals, I got to know the families well, and they were all remarkably strong.

“I confess that sometimes I found it very hard, and realised that the families I was there to console, were in fact, consoling me.

“The accident caused a tragic loss of talent, and seven young children grew up without their fathers.

“I know from continued contact how much they were missed, and still are.

“Laurence Binyon’s poem [For the Fallen] reminds us of our duty of remembrance.

“We will remember them, and the huge attendance here today is proof of that.”

Veterans and family members attend the Cromwell Weir Tragedy 50th anniversary service. Photo: Newark Advertiser/Fionn Burrows.

Bugler Andy Smith, of the Nottingham Concert Band, played the Last Post. Photo: Newark Advertiser/Fionn Burrows.

Following prayers, a bugler sounded the Last Post and the parade came to attention — two minutes of impeccable silence was observed in a quiet moment of reflection.

Standard bearers then stood to attention and a piper played as wreaths were laid by veterans, military personnel, Nottinghamshire Police, civic organisations, and the families.

Two wreaths were also cast into the weir.

Banners were paraded by veterans at the Cromwell Weir Tragedy 50th anniversary service. Photo: Newark Advertiser/Fionn Burrows.

Organiser of the Cromwell Weir Tragedy 50th anniversary service, Mike Holdsworth, with Jim Smith, brother of Terry who died in the tragedy in 1975..Photo: Newark Advertiser/Fionn Burrows.

Organiser Mike Holdsworth, said: “This is about remembrance.

“The original reserve Parachute regiment was re-badged under the Commandos a few years after the tragedy.

“So this is a fabulous celebration, to have both groups, green berets and red berets, bonded together.

“We’re all old soldiers now, so to see the new generation here, keeping that remembrance going, is tremendous.

“But these young men didn’t die for nothing, because so much was learned.”

Many family members made the journey down from Scotland to be at the service including the brother of Sapper Terry Smith, and the family of Sapper James Black.

Comedian Al Murray was also in attendance as he holds an honorary position in the Parachute regiment, his father Ingram Murray was commanding officer of the 131 Parachute volunteer regiment in the early 1970s.

One of those in attendance was Sapper Charles “Chuck” Wilkinson, who was taking part in the Trent Chase exercise on the night of the tragedy, and was in the boat behind the men who lost their lives.

Sapper Charles "Chuck Wilky" Wilkinson was on the river the night of the tragedy in a different boat, he attended the service alongside his son Steve Wilkinson, grandaughter Kay Wilkinson(right), and Donna Revell (left). Photo: Newark Advertiser/Fionn Burrows.

Recalling the events of that night, he said: “It was a terrible thing.

“We were the first two boats down the river, so we were not far behind.

“There was a power cut that night, and in the dark you couldn’t see the weir at all. The river looked completely flat and straight.

“We left the river further upstream — I think they must have just misjudged it.

“I was in complete shock when I heard what had happened.

“When we set off, we thought everything would be okay.”

The next remembrance service will be held in 2030.

Human Interest Newark Syndicate Fionn Burrows