This project centres on the loss of a particular vessel during the Normandy operations, a British Landing Craft (Headquarters) sank on 25 June 1944 after a striking a mine. Royal Navy veteran Patrick Thomas was aboard the Landing Craft when the mine exploded. Many of his shipmates lost their lives when the ship sank. Patrick’s dearest wish is to pay his respects to his comrades and our aim is to help him find their last resting place – the wreck of his Landing Craft.

Our project will play a part in helping Patrick honour his friends and tell the story of the tragic events of that day. Providing research and archaeological expertise Patrick’s close friend John Henry-Philips who promised Patrick that he will find the ship for him. Patrick’s experiences and the loss of the Landing Craft and John’s endeavours to find Patrick’s ship are to be filmed as part of a short documentary by Go-Button Media.

Members of Southsea Sub-Aqua Club will also be working with subject matter expert and hydrographer Chris Howlett. With Chris’s help we have identified a wreck site which may be that of Patrick's Landing Craft. We aim to document the wreck and confirm whether it is Patrick’s ship so that he may know where his shipmates came to rest. Professional archaeologist John Henry-Phillips will oversee the archaeological survey and report writing.

Following the completion of the project's report, Alison May & Martin Davies presented Patrick Thomas with a copy. Read more here.