The hulked remains of the former fishing vessel and requisitioned minesweeper HELPING HAND lie on the north bank of the confluence of the Carew and Cresswell Rivers at Black Mixen Pool, 200m to the east of Lawrenny Ferry.

The wreck is wooden, orientated NW (bow)/ SE (stern), and the extant remains are 21m in length, and 7.1m wide. The wreck comprises the keel, keelson, frames, outer-planking, lower stem, stern post and internal fittings of the original ship. Much of the framing has collapsed outward, especially on the starboard side, with some areas of collapse on the port side as well.

Event and Historical Information:
The HELPING HAND was built as a 1st Class Sailing Trawler in 1921, by G. & T. Smith, at Rye, East Sussex (Official No. 145776). The vessel was 58grt, 45nrt; 70.9ft length x 18.8ft breadth x 9ft depth; wooden hull with metal knees and fastenings. The first owners were James Breach & L. Tripp. It was sold in 1929 to W. H. Podd, and refurbished as a motorised trawler. In 1933, a W. J. Allen 4-cylinder, 135hp, diesel engine was fitted by Diesel Trawlers Ltd. The HELPING HAND's revised technical specification became 59grt; 30nrt, motorised trawler.

During World War II, the fishing vessels owned by the Podd family were requisitioned for mine-sweeping duties. Under the management of Edward William Podd, six trawlers were sent to Milford - namely PILOT JACK, J.A.P., BOY CLIFFORD, HELPING HAND, and HOLKAR. In 1941, the Podd fleet was transferred to Padstow. At the end of the war, HELPING HAND was sold to A. E. Dexter, Brixham, and then onto Fleetwood Drifters, Paignton. On 17 December 1946, in heavy weather, the HELPING HAND suffered a broken propellor shaft and began to take on water off the Newcombe Buoy, near Lowestoft. The Lowestoft lifeboat stood by until a tug brought the trawler into harbour the next morning. In 1953, the trawler was sold to R. H. Trawlers of London. In 1961, it was sold to Swansea Motor & Marine Engineeering Co Ltd. In 1968, it was sold to Daniel Mainwairing of Swansea and experienced an engine fire in Milford Haven Docks which caused the vessel to become an insurance write off. The last owner, from spring 1968, was John Radcliffe. The HELPING HAND was abandoned on the beach at Lawrenny in 1969.

The hulked remains were noted during a historical audit of the Milford Haven waterway in 1999 (PRN 37278) and by RCAHMW aerial reconnaissance on 1st August 2007 (image refs: AP_2007_2209-2210). In March 2013, the Nautical Archaeology Society and Dyfed Archaeological Trust undertook a survey of the hulk. The site was recorded by the RCAHMW with a photogrammetry survey on 20/09/2024 (link below).

Sources include:

Dyfed Archaeological Trust/Nautical Archaeology Society (Malvern Archaeological Diving Unit), 2013, Intertidal Hulk Recording Lawrenny Ferry

Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Environment Record, PRN 37278: https://archwilio.org.uk/her/chi3/report/page.php?watprn=DAT37278

RCAHMW Photogrammetry Survey, 20/09/2024: https://skfb.ly/pqZsX

J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, September 2024.