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Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial
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Edwin (Ted) Pitchford (1987)
The plaque reads ...
Edwin (Ted) Pitchford
fisherman of St. Helens
Died at sea 04-12-1987 aged 30.
F.V. 'William Flair' with crew
of two struck a rock and sank,
about 1 km from Deep Bay
anchorage en route to
Outer Sister Is. in Furneaux Group.
Only one man reached shore.
Edwin (Ted) Pitchford TSM 93. 04.12.1987
The fishing vessel William Flair left St. Helens for the Outer Sisters Island near Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group on December 3rd 1987, with a crew of two, Edwin (Ted) Pitchford (30) and Noel Johnson (28).
They were within a kilometre of their intended anchorage at Deep Bay when disaster occurred. The vessel struck a rock and sank immediately. Both crewmen clung to flagpoles and buoys for nearly an hour before becoming separated in the early hours of December 4th.
Mr Johnson managed to reach Outer Sister Island safely but Mr. Pitchford's body was recovered later that morning near the sunken wreck.
He was survived by his wife Joanne and stepson Luke.