131 Parachute & Commando Engineers.

Photos and information courtesy of Mark Holding, Treasurer Nottingham Branch The Parachute Regimental Association.

On September 28th 1975 ten members of the 131 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers were killed when their boat went over Cromwell lock. This had been an eighty mile night navigation exercise in extreme weather conditions. Power failures had caused the weir lights to go out, which resulted in ten members drowning at the weir.

Every year the Newark Branch of the Parachute Regiment Association organize the memorial event. Nottingham and Lincoln Branches are always in attendance, as well as members past and present, from 131 Commando and Parachute Squadron.
131 Parachute Squadron lost it's Parachute role during the cut backs within the territorial parachute brigade.
131 Engineer Squadron then converted to Commando.
131 Independent Commando Squadron supports 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and is the largest Territorial Army Commando Unit

You can find Cromwell lock just North of Newark in Nottinghamshire. From Newark you go North on the A1. After about three miles you follow the sign for Cromwell Village. As soon as you see the red telephone box, you turn right, opposite the telephone box, and go down a single track road, marked public footpath. Follow the road until you get to the end (about one mile), and you reach the lock and memorial.

In Memory of all those who lost their lives

Sapper Raymond Buchanan. Aged 20
Sapper Norman Bennet. Aged 29
Sapper James Black. Aged 18
Sapper Stuart Evenden. Aged 22
Sapper Peter Evenden. Aged 19
Sapper Ian Mercer. Aged 17
Sapper Alexander O’Brien. Aged 18
Sapper Terry Smith. Aged 20
Sapper Ronald Temprell. Aged 26
Sapper Joseph Walker. Aged 21