This is a list of personnel killed while serving in Minewarfare, Diving and EOD roles.  Generically, I have titled it RN Bomb & Mine Disposal Casualties.

NAME

RANK

SERVICE

UNIT

DATE OF DEATH

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACTON
James Shermer
C029603U		 Lt Cdr RN SOO MCM1 19 Aug 1999 Died from injuries following an earthquake in Golcuk Naval Base, Turkey on 17 Aug 1999.  Aged 37.  Cremated Portchester Crematorium.

ALLEN
Arthur William
PO/X 3477

Cpl

RM

RM Portsmouth Division

20 Jun 1944

Drowned in the Queen Mary Reservoir near London while conducting testing and experimental work on diving equipment for SOE special projects.  Aged 23.  Buried Staines (London Road) Cemetery.

ATKINSON
 Thomas
 LT/X 7794C

Seaman

RNPS

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

AUSTIN
Allister Charles
P/JX 188870

A/Ldg Seaman

RN

LCOCU No.3

6 Jun 1944

Diver in Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Unit (LCOCU) killed during very shallow water (VSW) clearance operations off Normandy beaches on D-Day.  Aged 23.  Buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.

AVISON
 Will

Lt

RNVR

HMS Hannibal
(Taranto, Italy)

2 Nov 1943

MID awarded posthumously for courage and skill in dangerous minesweeping operations.  Operation ANTIDOTE - minesweeping Galita to Sousse, Tunisia May 1943.  Missing presumed killed in explosion at Naples.  Aged 39.  Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

BALDWIN DSM
 Charles Edward
P/J 56017

CPO

RN

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

DSM awarded for great courage and skill in securing and stripping live enemy mines without regard for own safety.  Presentation made by King George VI at HMS Vernon 19 Dec 1939 for rendering safe first German influence mine at Shoeburyness 23 Nov 1939.  Helped OUVRY, LEWIS and VEARNCOMBE render safe first Type A magnetic mine and GLENNY and VEARNCOMBE render safe second Type A magnetic mine at Shoeburyness 25 Nov 1939. 

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Aged 40.  Buried Edinburgh (Seafield) Cemetery.

BARKER
Benjamin Robson
LT/X 6058ES

Engineman

RNPS

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Buried Hartlepool (Stranton) Cemetery.

BASKERVILLE BEM
 Thomas Leonard
C/J 18204

CPO(TGM)

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

23 Jan 1941

BEM awarded in 1940 King's Birthday Honours in recognition of services during the War.  On 23 Jan 1941, Baskerville was in the Bridlington Bay area between Flamborough Head and Spurn Head dealing with yet another washed-up mine.  After successfully defuzing the mine, he put the fuze and detonator in his jacket pocket to take back to HMS Vernon.  He made his way through a local town, where his escorting Police Officer stopped to question someone, at which point Baskerville slipped on the icy ground and fell upon the fuze and detonator in his pocket.  There was an explosion and the tragically brave Thomas Baskerville was killed.  Aged 44.  Buried Teddington Cemetery.

BEADLE GM
John Edmund Townsend
C/J 42261

CPO

RN

HMS Eaglet
(Liverpool)

7 May 1941

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Assisted Sub Lt Danckwerts in dealing with many mines in London during 1940.  Aged 41.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

BEAVERS
Henry Edward
LT/X 21451AR

Seaman

RNPS

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Aged 21.  Buried Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery.

BENSON
Harold
LT/JX 170577

Seaman

RNPS

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Killed when mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 23.  Buried Hull Northern Cemetery.

BETHUNE-WILLIAMS
Denis Eustace

Lt

RNVR

HMCS Bytown
(Ottawa)

25 Jan 1942

Worked for Department of Unexploded Bombs [HMS President (London)] for duty inside Admiralty.  Drowned when ship to Canada was torpedoed.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

BIRD
William
C/KX 10040S

Stoker

RNR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

BOYCE GM
Wilson
P/JX 198295

Ord Seaman

RN

HMS Jersey
(Destroyer)

2 May 1941

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Mine disposal Birmingham Oct 1940.

Missing presumed killed after HMS Jersey mined in entrance to harbour at Malta.  Aged 32.  Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

BRATLEY
John Wesley

Gunner (T)

RN

HMS Elissa
(Messina, Italy)

23 Aug 1943

First MID awarded for mine disposal.  Second MID awarded posthumously for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in clearing Messina harbour of enemy demolition charges Aug 1943. 

Killed when depth charges exploded at Messina.  Aged 28.  Plymouth Naval Memorial. 

BROWNRIGG
Patrick Charles Annesley

Lt

RNVR

HMS Dolphin
(Portsmouth)

6 May 1942

MID awarded for courage, skill and endurance while minesweeping in dangerous waters.  Minefield clearance in HMS Felixstowe (Bangor class M/S) Nore Dec 1941 to January 1942. 

Died during diving training as a Charioteer in Horsea Lake.  Aged 27.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

BRUNSKELL
William
P/JX 273286

AB

RN

HMS Odyssey (London) for 'P-Party' 1571

19 Dec 1944

Only 'P-Party' casualty.  Died of wounds after a German V-2 rocket hit the Cinema Rex in Antwerp where he was watching a film on 16 Dec 1944.  Buried Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerp, Belgium.

CLARK
Alfred Gordon
D/MD/X 3007

Ord Seaman

RNVR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed during mine recovery.  Plymouth Naval Memorial.

CLARKE
William
LT/X 21741 A

Seaman

RNPS

HMT Mastiff
(Minesweeper)

20 Nov 1939

Missing presumed killed during mine recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 27.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

CLAY
John Robert
LT/X 19262A

Seaman

RNPS

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Aged 32.  Buried Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery.

CLEVELAND RD
William Garwood

Chief Skipper

RNR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed during mine recovery.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

COOK
Reginald Augustus

Commissioned Gunner (T)

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

6 Aug 1940

MID awarded posthumously for gallantry after an anti-handling charge in a booby-trapped GC mine exploded in the mining shed at HMS Vernon 6 Aug 1940.  Aged 45.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

COULL
Joseph
LT/X 350ET

Engineman

RNR

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Missing presumed killed when mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 43.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.
CRABB OBE GM
Lionel Kenneth Phillip 'Buster'		 Cdr RNVR Unattached 19 Apr 1956 Missing presumed dead while diving under the Soviet cruiser Ordzhonikidze in Portsmouth Harbour. Aged 47. Presumed remains buried in Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth.

CROAKE
William Bernard
P/J 14205

AB

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

6 Aug 1940

Killed when an anti-handling charge in a booby-trapped GC mine exploded in the mining shed at HMS Vernon 6 Aug 1940.  Aged 50.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

DAVIES
Vernon
D/MX 53006

Ldg Cook

RN

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery.  Aged 23.  Plymouth Naval Memorial.

DILLON
Alfred Sidney
C/X 3172V

Stoker

RNR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed during mine recovery.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

DOBSON
Carl

Sub Lt

RNVR

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Aged 29.  Buried Edinburgh (Seafield) Cemetery.

DUNCAN
Alexander
C/K 61891

PO Stoker

RNVR

HMT Mastiff
(Minesweeper)

20 Nov 1939

Missing presumed killed during mine recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 35.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

EDWARDS DSO
Roy Berryman

Lt Cdr

RN

HMS Watchful
(Great Yarmouth)

11 Jun 1942

DSO awarded for courage and skill in securing and stripping live enemy mines without regard to his own safety.  Dealt with around 180 mines within two months.  

Commendation awarded for coolness and devotion to duty.  Assisted by CPO SPRIGGS, AB KEEN and AB WILSON. 

Killed with Ensign John HOWARD USNR 11 Jun 1942 at Corton Sands near Lowestoft while attempting to render safe a German TMA (GT) moored mine at Corton Sands near Lowestoft.  Aged 39.  Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

ELLINGWORTH GC
Reginald Vincent
P/J 26011

CPO

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

21 Sep 1940

GC awarded posthumously for great courage and undaunted devotion to duty. Worked as assistant to Lt Cdr RYAN in rendering safe magnetic mines in London during 1940. They worked on many assignments together, sharing the dangers involved. The principal hazard of these mines was the fact that the clock of the bomb fuse was normally timed to explode the mine about 22 seconds after its fall. If it failed to do so, it could be restarted by the slightest movement, even a footfall. The amount of the clock already run off could not be known, and once it was restarted the time for escape could not be more than a few seconds.

CPO ELLINGWORTH had previously been commended by HMS Vernon for his work on mines.  Killed with Lt Cdr RYAN at Oval Road North, Dagenham 21 Sep 1940 when GC mine hanging from its parachute in roof beams exploded as they entered the building.  Aged 42.  Buried Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery.

ELSON
Charley
C/KX 76131

Ldg Seaman

RNR

HMT Mastiff
(Minesweeper)

20 Nov 1939

Missing presumed killed during mine recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 32.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

FIRMINGER GM DSM
Anthony Reginald Joseph

Lt

RNVR

HMS Cannae
(Bone/Philippeville, Algeria)

23 Aug 1943

DSM awarded posthumously for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  MID awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in clearing Messina harbour of enemy demolition charges Aug 1943.  GM awarded posthumously for rendering safe bombs and mines.  Killed when depth charges exploded at Messina.  Aged 24.  Plymouth Naval Memorial. 

FLACK
John Chard
C/JX 145182

AB

RN

HMS Elissa
(Messina, Italy)

23 Aug 1943

MID awarded posthumously for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in clearing Messina harbour of enemy demolition charges Aug 1943. Killed when depth charges exploded at Messina.  Aged 23.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

FLETCHER
Cecil Howarth
P/J 25354

PO

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

6 Aug 1940

MID awarded posthumously for gallantry after an anti-handling charge in a booby-trapped GC mine exploded in the mining shed at HMS Vernon.  Aged 42.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

FOURACRE BEM
Percy
P/JX 219932

AB

RN

HMS Victory
(Portsmouth)

22 Sep 1943

BEM awarded for gallantry and devotion to duty.  Mine Disposal Thames Oct 42.

Killed with TANNER while attempting to render safe two unexploded G type mines among wreckage of crashed Dornier Do-217 at Out Newton, Yorkshire.   Aged 32.  Buried West Buckland (St Mary) Churchyard, Somerset.

GODDEN
Tony Marsac
SSX 908619 		LS RN HMS Vernon (Portsmouth) 11 Oct 1955 Died while on Clearance Diver course.  Aged 20.

GOODMAN GC MBE
George Herbert

Lt Cdr

RNVR

HMS Vernon (Portsmouth) and HMS Nile (Alexandria, Egypt)

31 May 1945

Appointed MBE for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Rendered safe and stripped the first 'Sammy' mine recovered in the Eastern Med.

GC awarded  for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. De-fuzed an Italian circling torpedo on beach 11 miles east of Alexandria on 15 Jan 1942 after one had killed the Torpedo Officer of HMS Medway.  GMs awarded simultaneously to assistants PO William Brook FILER and Painter Archibald John RUSSELL.

Killed in explosion at German mine depot in Holland on 31 May 1945.  Aged 44.  Buried West Duin Cemetery, The Hague, Netherlands.

HARDING
Walter Henry
C/JX 144659

AB

RN

HMS Elissa
(Messina, Italy)

23 Aug 1943

MID awarded posthumously for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in clearing Messina harbour of enemy demolition charges Aug 1943.  Killed when depth charges exploded at Messina.  Aged 23.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

HATHERALL
Frederick
LT/X 102595

Stoker

RNPS

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Missing presumed killed when mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  RNPS Memorial at Lowestoft.
HAWTHORNE
George
S/SX 860643
 AB(CD) RN HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)		 14 Nov 1952 Diving accident at Horsea Island.  Failed to surface during diving exercise.  Recovered from the lake but dead on arrival at RN Hospital Haslar despite artificial respiration.  Aged 21.  Buried Grandsable Cemetery, Polmont near Falkirk.

HAYNES
Malcolm Henry
C/JX 153497

AB

RN

HMS Elissa
(Messina, Italy)

23 Aug 1943

MID awarded posthumously for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in clearing Messina harbour of enemy demolition charges Aug 1943.  Killed when depth charges exploded at Messina.  Aged 22.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

HISCOCK GC DSC
William Ewart

Lt Cdr

RN

HMS St Angelo
(Malta)

15 Feb 1942

DSC awarded posthumously for courage, enterprise and devotion to duty in contact with the enemy.  

GC awarded posthumously for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  In Sep 1941 a Torpedo Machine (a device in which the Italians specialised) was dropped in 15 feet of water in St. George's Bay, Malta, and Lt Cdr HISCOCK was given the task of disarming it. The operation of salvage was one of considerable danger as, quite apart from the possibility of booby traps, no information was available as to the firing mechanism of the explosive head and its behaviour when parted from the body was a matter of complete uncertainty. While Lt Cdr HISCOCK and his assistant (Petty Officer C. LE BARGY DSM) were working on the bomb, the clock mechanism started and it was only their cool determination and skill which brought the operation to a successful conclusion.   

Lt Cdr HISCOCK and his wife were killed in Malta when their house received a direct bomb hit on 15 Feb 1942.  Buried in Malta Naval Cemetery, Kalkara.
HOLLISTER
Brent
D179708S 		LS(MW) RN HMS Atherstone (Minehunter) 18 Oct 1991 Died on board.  Aged 35.  Cremated Stockport Crematorium.

HOLMAN
Edward George
C/LD 896

Ldg Signalman

RNVR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 34.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

HORNE
George William
LT/X 21728A

Seaman

RNR

HMT Mastiff
(Minesweeper)

20 Nov 1939

Missing presumed killed during mine recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 27.  Buried Kessingland (St Edmund) Churchyard near Lowestoft, Norfolk.

HOWARD
John Martin

Ensign

USNR

US Embassy, London

11 Jun 1942

Killed with Lt Cdr Roy Berryman EDWARDS DSO while attempting to render safe a German TMA (GT) moored mine at Corton Sands near Lowestoft on 11 June 1942.  He was assigned at various times to the Royal Navy and to the Army's Royal Engineers to gain bomb & mine disposal experience.  Aged 24.  Buried at sea but memorialised at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, Cambridgeshire. 

HULME GM
Thomas
P/JX194001

AB

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

11 Mar 1941

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Mine disposal UK Aug to Oct 1940.  Killed in bombing raid on HMS Vernon.  Aged 21.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

HURRELL
Roy
LT/X 10096B

Seaman

RNPS

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

JOHNSON
Walter Edwin
LT/JX 165021

Seaman Cook

RNPS

HMT Firefly (Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth. Buried Great Yarmouth New Cemetery.

JOHNSTONE
David Brand

Lt

RNVR

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Aged 37.  Buried Edinburgh (Seafields) Cemetery.
KELLY
Thomas 'Ned'		 Lt RN HMS Vernon 24 Sep 2001 Lost consciousness while diving in Horsea Lake in 1998 and died after a long coma during which he was released from the RN on 26 Jul 2000.  Aged 43.

KERRIDGE
Roy Sheldrake

Lt Cdr

RNR

HMS Vernon
Portsmouth)

21 Sep 1940

MID awarded posthumously for courage, coolness and devotion to duty.  Killed in explosion in Hackney, London.  Aged 37.  Buried Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent.

KESSACK GM
James Henry Hyndman 'Red'

Lt

RANVR

HMS President
(London)

28 Apr 1941

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Killed while disarming mine in Southport, Lancashire.  Aged 38.  Cremated Glasgow Crematorium.
KIDMAN
Graham
D104664V 		AB(D) RN HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)		 16 May 1972 Died in Greece during an underwater incident.  It is thought he suffered from hypoxia and suffocated on his way to the surface. He subsequently failed to respond to compression treatment and died 18 hours later.  At the time he was a member of the Fleet Clearance Diving Team and was diving using a towed search in water with a maximum of 33 metres.  Aged 20.  Buried Haslar Royal Navy Cemetery.

KING
Arthur
LT/JX 164585

Asst Cook

RNPS

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Killed when mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 17.  Buried Caister-on-Sea (Great Yarmouth) Cemetery.

KIRKLAND MBE
Donald

Sub Lt

RNVR

HMS Odyssey
(London) for NP 1747

12 May 1945

Appointed MBE for gallant and distinguished service in mine-clearing operations in enemy-held ports during the invasion of Normandy and the Low Countries.  Mine disposal Ouistreham Aug 1944.  Killed with SAULL in explosion while attempting to render safe new type of mine in sea off Rotterdam.  Buried Rotterdam Crooswijk Roman Catholic Cemetery.
LARKIN
Charles Brian
SS/X 839916 		LS(CD) RN HMS Terror for Far East Fleet CD Team 28 Jul 1954 Victim of fatal shark attack while diving to recover jettisoned packets of opium in Singapore commercial port's inner harbour.  LS(CD) Sayer awarded Royal Humane Society's Silver Medal and AB(CD) T.C. Sherris awarded Bronze Medal for their attempts to save him.  Aged 21.  Buried Kranji Military Cemetery.

LAW
Douglas
P/JX 138916

PO

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

29 Jun 1944

Died of wounds sustained.  Aged 27.  Buried West Melton Congregational Chapelyard, Yorkshire.

LEWIS-LAVENDER
Walter Charles

Lt

RNVR

HMS King Alfred
(Hove)

28 Sep 1940

MID awarded posthumously for courage, coolness and devotion to duty.  Tasked to defuze two German type C magnetic mines which had fallen close to Lambourne Church. After successfully defuzing the closer of the two mines, he retired to take tea with Mr and Mrs Stephen Padfield of Lambourne Hall.  Shortly after beginning work on the second mine, he was killed by its explosion.  Aged 39.  Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
LLOYD
Frederick Charles
C/JX 278608 		PO RN HMS Copra 1 Nov 1944 LCOCU Diver on D-Day - First MID awarded as an AB (Landing Ship HMS Prince Charles) 2 Oct 1942 for gallantry, daring and skill in the combined attack on Dieppe: .
Second MID awarded posthumously as a PO (HMS Copra for Naval Force T(P)) 6 Mar 1945 for gallantry and great devotion to duty in the assault on Walcheren, in which operation he lost his life. Buried Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.

MACLEAN
Andrew MacGavin

Lt

RNVR

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

18 Feb 1940

Died of wounds after explosion on 3 Feb 1940 while recovering loose British moored mines with course of RNVR officers in Forth.  Buried Strathblane Parish Churchyard, Stirlingshire.

MACPHERSON
George
LT/X 6067 ES

Engineman

RNPS

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.   Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

MAIN
William Dawnie
LT/X 9446

Ldg Seaman

RNR

HMT Mastiff
(Minesweeper)

20 Nov 1939

Killed during mine recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 30.  Buried Burghead Cemetery, Duffus, Morayshire.

McKELVIE
William
C/JX 376655

A/Ldg Seaman

RN

LCOCU No. 14

20 Sep 1944

Died on war service.  Aged 21.  Buried Glasgow (Cardonald) Cemetery.
McKENZIE
Eric 'Jock'
J/X 830709 		PO(CD1) RN HMS Cochrane for Flag Officer Scotland & Northern Ireland CD Team 5 Jun 1963 Killed while extracting an unexploded shell from a dredger hopper bucket in Poole Harbour while assigned to the Portland Diving Team.  Aged 31.  Cremated Kirkcaldy Crematorium.

MEADOWS
Richard William James
LT/KX 99965

Engineman

RNPS

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Missing presumed killed when mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 23.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.
McQUEEN
Benjamin David
30112763 		Marine RM RM Poole 14 Nov 2018 Involved in a maritime training exercise in Portland Harbour. Brought back to surface after he became separated from other divers.  He was sadly pronounced dead after CPR was performed.  Aged 26.
MURRAY
David Malcolm
D222515F 		Diver 2 RN HMS Excellent 24 Jul 2001 Underwater diving accident during 80m CDBA trials.  Aged 24.  Buried Waterlooville Cemetery.

MURRAY
Gilbert Ralph

Lt Cdr

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

11 Mar 1941

MID awarded for courage and skill in dealing with an unexploded bomb.  Killed in bombing raid on HMS Vernon.  Aged 34.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

MURRAY
John
C/X 30 SB

Second Hand

RNR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery.  Aged 40.  Chatham Naval Memorial.

NELSON
Harry Elvin
P/JX172374

AB

RN

HMS Campbeltown
(Destroyer)
Ex-HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

28 Mar 1942

BEM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Missing presumed killed during raid on St Nazaire.  Aged 23.  Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

NIXON
William
P/SSX17748

AB

RN

HMS Menestheus
(Hired as minelayer)

15 Feb 1944

MID awarded for courage and skill in dealing with an unexploded bomb.  Aged 25.  Buried Hawthorn (St Michael) Churchyard, Durham.

ORR GM
Ronald Mervyn

Sub Lt

RNVR

HMS Odyssey
(London) for NP 1502 then NP 1747

8 Nov 1944

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Conducted underwater clearance of hospital ship berth Avant Port, Dieppe on 12 Oct 1944.  Killed in later mine incident.  Aged 22.  Buried Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer.
PASCOE
Nigel Bruce
86795 		AB(CD3) RN HMS Kirkliston 7 Dec 1970 Died while performing a night attack exercise in the islands north of Hong Kong as one of a pair of divers.  Despite efforts by his diving partner, the diving team and the ship, he could not be resuscitated.  Aged 21.  Buried in Newquay, Cornwall.

PEAT
Norman Fraser

Sub Lt

RNVR

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Aged 23.  Buried Glasgow (Eastwood) Old & New Cemetery.
PERDUE
Henry Otho
J104459 		Petty Officer RN HMS Tedworth 23 Aug 1939 Died from "the bends" (decompression sickness) during the salvage of the submarine HMS Thetis in Liverpool Bay.

PRIOR
Walter Erskine

Lt

RNVR

HMS President
(London)

22 Dec 1945

Killed while recovering beached mine at Aldwick near Bognor Regis.  Aged 23.  Buried Upton Warren (St Michael) Churchyard, Worcester.

QUAYLE
William
LT/X 10145S

Engineman

RNR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

REID
Peter
LT/X 18333

Seaman

RNR

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Aged 24.  Buried Buckie New Cemetery.
RITCHIE
Gavin
D193728B
 AB(D) RN HMS Bronington 7 Mar 1986 Underwater diving accident. Aged 21.  Buried Douglas Bank Cemetery, Dunfermline.

ROBERTSON
James
LT/JX 241461

Seaman

RNPS

HMS Calliope
(North Shields) for HMT General Botha
(Minesweeper)

28 Jul 1943

Killed when sheerlegs holding up mine collapsed at South Shields.  Aged 36.  Buried Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery.

ROGERS GM
Antony Gusterson

Electrical Lt

RN

HMS St Angelo
(Malta)

23 May 1941

First MID awarded for courage, coolness and devotion to duty. GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Mine disposal London Sep 1940.  Second MID awarded posthumously for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Mine disposal Malta.  Buried Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery.
ROSSON
Horace Walter George
CH/X 104901 		Marine RM RM Engineer Commando (Naval Party 1562 aka LCOCU 10). 6 Jun 1944 LCOCU Diver.  Killed on D-Day.  Aged 22. Buried Bayeux War Cemetery.

RYAN GC
Richard John Hammersley

Lt Cdr

RN

HMS President
(London)

21 Sep 1940

GC awarded posthumously for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Lt Cdr RYAN was one of two officers who stripped the first magnetic mine of Type C found in a German aircraft which had crashed at Clacton.  When magnetic mines were first dropped over London he came forward without hesitation for the perilous work of making them safe, although, with his unrivalled knowledge of this work, he was well aware of the dangers he so readily accepted.  The clock of the bomb-fuse was normally timed to explode the mine about 22 seconds after its fall. If it failed to do so, it might be restarted by the slightest movement, even a footfall.  The amount of the clock already run off could not be known, and once it was restarted time for escape could not be more than a few seconds.

Lt Cdr RYAN tackled six of these mines with his own hands, one of them in a canal where he worked waist deep in mud and water which would have made escape impossible.  Here he found and removed the bomb-fuse only by groping for it under water.

At Hornchurch he made safe a very hazardous mine which threatened the aerodrome and an explosives factory, and then he and his assistant, Chief Petty Officer ELLINGWORTH with whom he had shared many dangerous assignments, went on to Oval Road North, Dagenham on 21 Sep 1940.  Here they tackled a mine hanging by a parachute in a warehouse and both were killed by its explosion as they entered the building.  Aged 37.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

SAULL GM
Ronald Henry

Lt

RNVR

HMS Odyssey
(London) for NP 1502 then NP 1747

12 May 1945

Commendation awarded for bravery and devotion to duty in helping to salvage a cargo of bombs after an air attack. (SS Malakand at Huskisson Dock, Liverpool 2 May 41).  GM awarded for exceptional gallantry, skill and great devotion to duty, often in close proximity to the enemy, during mine-searching and clearance operations in the ports of Normandy and the Low Countries.  Helped salvage Lk Sta Ouistreham Aug 1944.  Killed with KIRKLAND in explosion while attempting to render safe new type of mine in sea off Rotterdam.  Buried Rotterdam Crooswijk Roman Catholic Cemetery.

SAVAGE
Ernest

Lt

RN

HMS Philomel
(Auckland, NZ)

12 Oct 1946

Disarmed sea mines in New Zealand.  Aged 53.  Remains cremated South London Crematorium, Mitcham.

SHELDON GM
Lord Joseph Herbert

Commissioned Boatswain

RN

HMS St Angelo
(Malta)

23 May 1941

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Bomb disposal Malta 7 Sep 1940.  Assisted Lt Rowlands with B&MD at Malta and recommended for bar to GM but was killed and awarded MID instead because GM could not be awarded posthumously until 1977.  Killed while disarming mine.  Buried Malta Naval Cemetery, Kalkara.

SMITH
James Sidney
LT/KX 99079

Stoker

RNPS

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Missing presumed killed when mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 30.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.
SMITHARD
Charles Anthony
D172151S		 LS(D) RN HMS Vernon 18 Jan 1983 Road accident. Aged 27. Cremated Chichester Crematorium.
SOTHCOTT
Peter Charles
M/X 714889 		Shipwright Diver First Class RN HMS Vernon (Portsmouth) 3 Mar 1961 Underwater diving accident. Aged 34. Buried RN Cemetery Haslar.

SOUTER
James
LT/X 9371B

Ldg Seaman

RNPS

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 28.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

SOUTHWELL GC
Bennett
P/JX 204557

Ord Seaman

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

17 Oct 1940

GC awarded posthumously for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Mine disposal Hoxton 17 Oct 1940.  Killed while assisting Sub Lt J. EASTON deal with GC mine that had penetrated house in East End of London and was suspended from its parachute.  Clock started when fuze removal tool was applied and Ord Sea SOUTHWELL was killed by blast having run across road to take shelter.  The blast of the mine destroyed six complete streets.  Aged 27.  Buried Leicester (Gilroes) Cemetery.

STEARNS
William James
P/JX 150497

AB

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

12 Aug 1940

Died of wounds after an anti-handling charge in a booby-trapped GC mine exploded in the mining shed at HMS Vernon 6 Aug 1940.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.  

STEVENS
Alfred Ernest
P/J 11953

AB

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

7 Aug 1940

Died of wounds after an anti-handling charge in a booby-trapped GC mine exploded in the mining shed at HMS Vernon 6 Aug 1940.  Aged 45.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

STEWART
Alexander
LT/X 18334A

Seaman

RNPS

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Aged 23.  Buried Buckie New Cemetery, Banffshire.

STEWART
James
LT/X 9385

Seaman

RNPS

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Buried Lossiemouth Burial Ground.

SUTHERLAND
Andrew Charles
LT/X 7788C

Ldg Seaman

RNR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed during mine recovery.  Aged 31.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

SUTHERLAND
Reginald Bruce

Lt

RNVR

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

6 Mar 1941

Missing presumed killed while attempting to recover mine in Falmouth harbour on 6 Mar 1941 while diving from boat towed by 'The Mouse', a small motor launch belonging to HMS Vernon which was specially fitted with Hotchkiss propulsion (no propeller).  Lt J. F. NICHOLSON RNVR, PO BENHAM plus one other manning 'The Mouse' survived.  Aged 27.  Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

TAIT
William Kermack
LT/X 5999ES

Engineman

RNPS

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

TANNER GM
Charles Graham

Lt Cdr

RNVR

HMS President
(London)

22 Sep 1943

GM awarded for gallantry and devotion to duty.  Mine disposal Thames Oct to Nov 1942.  Killed with FOURACRE while attempting to render safe two unexploded G type mines from wreckage of a crashed Dornier Do-217 at Out Newton, Yorkshire.   Aged 35.  Buried Tilford (All Saints) Churchyard near Farnham, Surrey.

TAWN DSM BEM
Robert George
C/JX 137109

AB

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

6 Mar 1941

DSM awarded for coolness, courage and resource when dealing with a magnetic mine in a tideway.  Performed first underwater RMS attempt (GC mine in Poole harbour) in 42 feet of water from Vernon echo-sounding yacht Esmeralda 14 Jun 1940.  Mine exploded while being towed ashore by fishing boat.

BEM awarded for gallant conduct and devotion to duty.

Killed by mine in Falmouth harbour on 6 Mar 1941 while manning a boat towed by 'The Mouse', a small motor launch belonging to HMS Vernon which was specially fitted with Hotchkiss propulsion (no propeller).  Lt J. F. NICHOLSON RNVR, PO BENHAM plus one other manning 'The Mouse' survived.  Aged 24.  Buried Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall.

THOMPSON
James Edwin
LT/JX 170589

Seaman

RNPS

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Killed when mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 29.  Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent.

VAUGHAN
Geoffrey William

Sub Lt

RNVR

HMT Firefly
(Minesweeper)

3 Feb 1940

Killed with course of RNVR Sub Lieutenants while recovering loose British moored mines in Forth.  Buried Bournemouth (Wimborne Road) Cemetery.

WALKER
George Albert
LT/JX 170556

Seaman

RNPS

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Killed when mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 28.  Buried Hull Eastern Cemetery.
WALTERS
Jeffery 'George'
D201868L		 LS(D) RN Northern Diving Group, Faslane 21 feb 2004 Believed to have suffered a heart attack while diving at Oban. Aged 36. Cremated Newcastle Crematorium.

WHARTON
Ivan Vincent
C/JX 113809

Ldg Seaman

RN

HMS Vernon
(Portsmouth)

6 Mar 1941

Killed by mine in Falmouth harbour on 6 Mar 1941 while manning a boat towed by 'The Mouse', a small motor launch belonging to HMS Vernon which was specially fitted with Hotchkiss propulsion (no propeller).  Lt J. F. NICHOLSON RNVR, PO BENHAM plus one other manning 'The Mouse' survived.  Buried Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall.

WHITE
Herbert Albert
C/JX 138664

Ldg Seaman

RNPS

HMT Mastiff
(Minesweeper)

21 Nov 1939

Died of wounds after mine exploded 20 Nov 1939 during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 22.  Buried Thetford Cemetery, Norfolk.

WILKIE
John Hebenton
P/ESD/X 1664

Ord Signalman

RNVR

HMD Ray of Hope
(HMS Vernon mine recovery vessel)

10 Dec 1939

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 18.  Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

WINTER
William Henry

Skipper

RNR

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Aged 42.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

WRIGHT
Edward Archibald Templeton

Lt

RM

RM Boom Patrol Detachment
(Cover name for 'Cockleshell Heroes')

28 Jan 1944

Drowned while undertaking 'Sleeping Beauty' MSC (Motor Submersible Canoe) training while wearing underwater breathing apparatus in the trials tank at ARE Haslar.  Aged 20.  Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.

WRIGHT GM
Graham Maurice

Sub Lt

RNVR

HMS Cormorant
(Gibraltar)

19 Aug 1941

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Dealt with GC mine suspended over stage of London Palladium Theatre 11 May 1941 by climbing a ladder.  The fuze started ticking during removal but the mine failed to explode.

Reported missing presumed killed while en route to Gibraltar on board the torpedoed troopship SS Aguila.  Aged 29.  Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

WYLLIE
John Richard
LT/X 9485B

Seaman

RNPS

HMT Myrtle
(Minesweeper)

14 Jun 1940

Missing presumed killed after mine exploded during recovery in Thames Estuary.  Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

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