wemburywaves

On This Day in Wembury — 18 January 1972

Toxic drums washed ashore across the South West after the sinking of a German vessel 26 miles north-west of Bishop Rock, near Land’s End. Coastguards investigated reports at Wembury Beach and Burgh Island, though the drums found there proved empty. Some, however, were stuck fast in the rocks near Newton Ferrers, requiring rope access to reach.

The incident followed the loss of the Germania (a Spanish vessel) on 21 December, and another German ship just two days earlier, both thought to be carrying chemical cargoes. Officials feared the substances could be related to ammonia and potentially dangerous in concentrated doses. Across Cornwall and Devon, more than 80 drums were reported along a 75-mile stretch of coast, prompting calls for urgent scientific support.

Brigadier Godfrey Lerwill, Devon’s pollution chief, stressed that Devon had been relatively fortunate compared to Cornwall, but cautioned beachgoers to avoid all washed-up drums.

Source: Torbay Express and South Devon Echo, 18 January 1972

The Wembury sightings formed part of a much larger environmental scare — one of the first to raise national questions about how governments should be warned of toxic cargoes lost at sea. It was a reminder that in a coastal parish like Wembury, events far offshore could quickly touch local sands.