A crowd gathered to commemorate the memory of 29 sailors who died in the HMS Illustrious liberty boat disaster.

Members of the Portland Sea Cadets, the HMS Illustrious Association, standard bearers from the Portland branch of the Royal Naval Association, dignitaries and guests attended the memorial service to mark the 76th anniversary of the tragedy.

It took place at the HMS Illustrious memorial at Portland Marina at noon on Saturday.

The memorial, made from Portland stone, was unveiled at Osprey Quay in 2010 by the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, and was provided by the Illustrious association. 

On October 17, 1948 the ship's liberty boat, an open motor launch known as a pinnace, sank in Portland Harbour as it was returning to Illustrious.

Of the 50 men aboard, 29 souls were lost, mainly young men, Nineteen are buried in Portland Royal Naval Cemetery.

It has been described as one of the worst peacetime naval disasters.

The liberty boat set out from Weymouth around 10.30pm on the Sunday night, in a fierce south-westerly gale. It was returning back to the ship, anchored in Portland Harbour, bringing the men back who had enjoyed a day on shore.

It was reported that men from Illustrious risked their own lives trying to save those who had been aboard the boat.

The service began with a brief history of the incident, before the names of the serving men who lost their lives were read aloud by Dennis Matthews, local member of the HMS Illustrious Association.

The Rev Martin Kirkbride following the laying of wreathsThe Rev Martin Kirkbride following the laying of wreaths (Image: Alfie Lumb) The Rev Martin Kirkbride, a veteran of the Faklands War, led the service. After wreaths were laid he read the naval prayer before leading everyone in the Lord’s Prayer.

Dennis Matthews then thanked everyone for their presence at the service. He then read the Laurence Binyon poem, For the Fallen.

Members of the HMS Illustrious Association and standard bearersMembers of the HMS Illustrious Association and standard bearers (Image: Alfie Lumb) Speaking after the service, Mr Matthews said: “We organise this service every year, and I help to organise that because I live locally. The main association will be meeting in Hull over the weekend for a reunion.”