Two views of the s.s. Lunan broken in half by the force of the explosive effect of a German mine in 1941. It is said that coal was found in the streets of Penarth over half a mile away. No wonder then that the crew was lost but all the more amazing that the chief engineer, Mr. Frederick Base, survived. I would dearly love to hear his experiences of the day.

A view from the Penarth Dock side with the chain ferry jetty still intact and the northern toll house of the subway behind. The ship is being cut into sections with each section then dragged through the mud to the shore. Obviously, in this position she was a hazard to the safe navigation of the river since she lay between the channel and the coal tips. In normal circumstances a navigation light, to warn others of the sunken wreck, would have been installed whilst works continued but due to the wartime restrictions on lights, called the 'blackout', I doubt that the wreck was marked or any part of it visible at high water. [005]

The force of the blast can only be imagined from this anglular view. It occurred approximately amid-ships and tore apart the ship which was fully laden with coal. Hard times indeed! [005]