^NOTES

^{AWARD ABBREVIATIONS}

^{OTHER ABBREVIATIONS}

¹ Killed on duty

² Award not for RMS or BD

³ Reason for award unknown

VC: Victoria Cross
GC: George Cross
CBE: Commander of the Order of the British Empire
DSO: Distinguished Service Order
OBE: Officer of the Order of the British Empire
MBE: Member of the Order of the British Empire

DSC: Distinguished Service Cross

MC: Military Cross

CGM: Conspicuous Gallantry Medal

GM: George Medal
DSM: Distinguished Service Medal

BEM: British Empire Medal (now superseded by MBE)

MID: Mention in Despatches
Commend'n: King's Commendation for Brave Conduct

B&MD: Bomb & Mine Disposal
BD: Bomb Disposal
BSO: Bomb Safety Officer
LCOCU: Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Unit
RMS: Rendering Mines Safe

C

CALLIEU
Charles Donald

Lt RNVR (Later A/Cdr RNVR)

HMY Esmeralda

HMY Esmeralda

3 Nov 42
3 Jul 45

DSC
OBE

RMS - DSC awarded for brave conduct.

Appointed OBE for minesweeping and mine recovery Aug 44 to Feb 45.

CAMPBELL
Donald

C/SSX23256

AB

HMS Fabius (Taranto)

7 Sep 45

BEM

Port Clearance - BEM awarded for bravery and undaunted devotion to duty in mine clearance operations in Porto Corsini and Ravenna Harbours and the Canal Candiano.

CARR
Guy (Nutty)

P/JX170645

AB

‘P’ Party 1572

15 May 45

BEM

Port Clearance - BEM awarded for gallantry and skill in mine-searching and clearing operations in the ports of Normandy and the Low Countries following the invasion of France.

CASEY
Graham

Lt SANF

‘P’ Party 1574

30 Apr 46

MID

Port Clearance - MID awarded for good services in Mine Clearance and Mine Disposal Operations in NW Europe immediately before the close of the war with Germany and in the months which followed.

CASHFORD
Noel

Lt (Sp) RNVR

Department of the Director of Unexploded Bomb Disposal, redesignated mid 1944: Bomb and Mine Disposal Section, Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining, redesignated 01.02.1946 Bomb and Mine Disposal Section, Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons [HMS President] (for duty outside Admiralty)

HMS Volcano (Ravenglass)

14 May 46

MBE

B&MD - Appointed MBE for courage and zeal in bomb and mine disposal operations in the Dover Sub-Command in December 1945.

CAUSER
Malcolm Richard

Ord Seaman Sub Lt RNVR

FV Arthur
HMS Fabius (Taranto)

Not Gazetted
28 Nov 44

MID
DSO

Chariot Diver - Participated in first Chariot attempt to sink the Tirpitz 50 miles up Trondheim Fjord in Oct 1942.  During rough weather, both chariots were lost from beneath their fishing boat 'Arthur' which subsequently sank.  All personnel attempted to make their escape across Sweden.

DSO awarded for great gallantry.  Teamed with Smith as the crew of a 'Human Torpedo' which penetrated the heavily defended harbour of La Spezia on the night of 21 Jun 44 and sank the Italian Cruiser Bolzano.  Captured while trying to escape across the River Arno.

CHAPPLE
Charles Walter Albert

Lt RNVR
Lt Cdr RNVR

HMT Elk
HMS Vernon
HMD Sailor King

1 Jan 40
28 Apr 42
6 Mar 45

DSC
GM
MID

RMS and Minesweeping - DSC awarded for Minesweeping Trials.

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Dealt with several German explosive sweep obstructors along the Humber coast.  Helped recover booby-trapped mine at Ogmore near Porthcawl in Wales. When stripped at 'HMS Mirtle', (HMS Vernon's Mine Investigation Range at Buriton), it was found to be an example of the first German acoustic mine and led to the development of the Kango acoustic minesweeping hammer.

MID awarded for minesweeping Le Havre Jun to Sep 44.

CLARE
Ronald

P/JX399322

AB

‘P’ Party 1573

30 Apr 46

MID

Port Clearance - MID awarded for good services in Mine Clearance and Mine Disposal Operations in NW Europe immediately before the close of the war with Germany and in the months which followed.

CLARKE
Bruce Graham

Lt RNVR

XE-5

13 Nov 45

DSC

X-Craft Diver - DSC awarded for outstanding courage, determination and devotion to duty whilst serving in His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE-5, in an attempt to cut the Hong Kong to Singapore telegraph cable west of Lamma Island.  Three and a half days and nights were spent inside the defended waters of Hong Kong and the dangerous passage between them and the open sea was made four times.

CLEMENTS
Frank Harry

D/JX133438

PO Diver

PO Diver

HMS Tedworth (Diving Tender)

4 Feb 42
1 Jan 44

MID
BEM

Diving - MID awarded for good services in diving work under enemy air attacks. Searched for SM in 33 fathoms.

BEM awarded in New Year Honours 1944.

CLIFF
Geoffrey John

Lt RANVR (Later Lt Cdr)

HMS Vernon

9 Jun 42
24 Nov 42
28 Sep 43
18 Apr 44

GM
Bar to GM
MBE
OBE

RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine Disposal UK May to Oct 41.

Bar to GM awarded for Mine Disposal Belfast Jul 42.

Appointed MBE for great bravery and steadfast devotion to duty.

Appointed OBE for Mine Disposal.

CLODE
Edward St. John

Sub Lt RNVR

Torpedo & Mining Dept, HMS Vernon

4 Mar 41

Commend'n

RMS - Commendation awarded for courage and devotion to duty.

COGGER
David John

Lt RM

1 Engineer Commando

14 Nov 44

MC

LCOCUs - MC awarded for gallant and distinguished services operating with the Army in Normandy:

COLLINS
Ronald Edward

P/JX522293

AB

‘P’ Party 1575

30 Apr 46

MID

Port Clearance - MID awarded for good services in Mine Clearance and Mine Disposal Operations in NW Europe immediately before the close of the war with Germany and in the months which followed.

COMFORT
William George

P/J93809

AB 

HMS Vernon

11 Mar 41

GM

B&MD - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Conducted bomb disposal Portsmouth 4 Aug 40 and helped deal with booby-trapped mine at Piddlehinton 18 Aug 40.

COOK
George Douglas

Lt RCNVR

HMS Nile
HMS Moreta (Haifa)
LCOCU

29 Jul 41
10 Feb 42
10 Jul 45

GM
Bar to GM
MID

RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Assisted Griffiths conduct Mine Disposal Suez Canal May 41.

Bar to GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine Disposal Haifa 26 Jul 41.

MID awarded for courage, tenacity and devotion to duty whilst serving in H.M. Ships Pathfinder and Phoebe, H.M. Indian Ships Narbada, Hamla, Cauvery, Jumna, Hathi and Light Coastal Forces, in operations lasting four months, frequently performed under rapidly changing conditions and with difficult lines of communication, on the Arakan Coast.  

COOK¹
Reginald Augustus

Commissioned Gunner (T)

HMS Vernon

3 Dec 40

MID

RMS - 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 40 killing Cook, PO Cecil H. Fletcher, AB William B. Croake, AB William J. Stearns and AB Alfred E. Stevens.

COOK
Sidney John Victor

C/JX294498

LS

‘P’ Party 1572

15 May 45

BEM

Port Clearance - BEM awarded for gallantry and skill in mine-searching and clearing operations in the ports of Normandy and of the Low Countries following the invasion of France.

COTTLE
Harold William

P/JX330545

AB

‘P’ Party 1573

15 May 45

MID

Port Clearance - MID awarded for bravery and skill in mine-clearing operations in enemy-held ports during the invasion of Normandy and the Low Countries.

CRABB
Lionel Kenneth Philip (Buster)

Lt Cdr RNVR
(Later Cdr RNVR)

HMS Cormorant (Gib)
HMS Fabius (Taranto)
HMS Vernon

25 Jan 44
11 Dec 45

GM
OBE

B&MD - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Participated in removal of Italian chariot limpet mines from ships at Gibraltar.

Appointed OBE for Mine Clearance and Mine Disposal Operations in NW Europe immediately before the close of the war with Germany and in the months which followed.

CRAIG
Donald

Sgt Royal Engineers

FV Arthur

Not Gazetted

MID

Chariot Diver - Participated in first Chariot attempt to sink the Tirpitz 50 miles up Trondheim Fjord in Oct 1942.  During rough weather, both chariots were lost from underneath their carrying fishing boat 'Arthur' which subsequently sank.  All personnel attempted to make their escape across Sweden.

CROFT
Charles George

Lt RANR

HMAS Melville (Darwin)

28 Sep 43

MBE

B&MD - Appointed MBE for great bravery and steadfast devotion to duty.

CRONYN
Hugh Verschoyle

Lt RNVR

Department of Unexploded Bombs, Admiralty [HMS President] (for duty outside Admiralty)

28 Apr 42

GM

RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Dealt with unexploded 500 kg bomb in petrol-filled tank of an oil tanker Bristol Channel Apr 41.. 

CULLEN
William

C/JX294207

PO

‘P’ Party 1572

15 May 45

BEM

Port Clearance - BEM awarded for gallantry and skill in mine-searching and clearing operations in the ports of Normandy and of the Low Countries following the invasion of France.

CUMMINS
Peter Anthony

Electrical Sub Lt RNVR

RMS Section, HMS Vernon

27 Jun 41

Commend'n

BD/RMS - Commendation awarded for brave conduct and devotion to duty.  Recovered booby-trapped mine at Ogmore near Porthcawl in Wales. When stripped at 'HMS Mirtle', (HMS Vernon's Mine Investigation Range at Buriton), it was found to be an example of the first German acoustic mine and led to the development of the Kango acoustic minesweeping hammer.