WW II Awards for RN Bomb and Mine Disposal

Under Development. Contributions and corrections welcome.

^NOTES

^{AWARD
ABBREVIATIONS}

^{OTHER
ABBREVIATIONS}

¹Killed 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BEM: British Empire Medal (now superseded by MBE)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

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

NAME	RANK/RATE	UNIT	DATE GAZETTED	AWARD	REMARKS
F
FAWCETT George P/JX383150	AB	‘P’ Party 1571	30 Apr 46	BEM	Port Clearance - BEM awarded for valuable services in connection with mine clearance and mine disposal in NW Europe immediately before the close of the war with Germany and in the months which followed. Discovered first 'Oyster' pressure mine at Bremen.
FENEMORE Harry 100007	LS RAN	HMAS Hobart lent to HMS Stag (Port Said)	1 Jan 42	DSM	RMS - DSM awarded 1942 New Year Honours. Loaned to the (Suez) Canal Mine Clearance Party as a diver from 28 Mar 1941 to 31 Dec 1941. DSM was awarded for diving on a German GD mine that was lying too close to three ships to be swept or countermined. He dived in magnetically safe Standard Dress, not knowing if the mine was an active acoustic mine (which would almost certainly have proved fatal). He rendered the mine safe by removing the primer extender and primer spring, removing the primer, cutting the detonator leads and removing the detonator.
FENWICK Bertram Henry Walter	Lt RNVR	Torpedo & Mining Dept, HMS Vernon	4 Mar 41 9 Jun 42	GM Bar to GM	RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine Disposal Hendon Nov 40. Bar to GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Assisted Lt Cdr Wadsley conduct first rendering safe and recovery of a photo-electric cell booby-trapped G Type mine in Clyde area. Also rendered safe mine in 3rd floor office of building adjacent to main telephone exchange in Liverpool 13 Mar 41. Had to climb ladder and enter via window.
FERRIER Alex Mitchell C/JX145141	Leading Signalman	HMS Talbot (Malta)	18 Apr 44	CGM	Chariot Diver - Participated in Operation Principal attack on Italian fleet in Palermo, Sicily Jan 43. Captured after placing charges on cruiser Ulpio Traiano, destroyer Grecale, torpedo boat Ciclone and M/V Gamma.
FEWTRELL Dennis D/JX349811	AB	LCOCU No.1	6 Nov 45	DSM	LCOCUs - DSM awarded for bravery, skill and great devotion to duty in the reconnaissance and destruction of unknown obstacles and mines, and in the rescue of survivors whose craft had been destroyed in a minefield, during the landings in the Baie de Cavallaire in the South of France, June-August 1945, and for similar good services in the landings in Normandy.
FILER William Brook P/JX140118	PO Lt Cdr RN	HMS Nile (Alexandria) HMS Reclaim	15 Sep 42 1 Jan 52	GM MBE	RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Assisted Goodman de-fuze an Italian circling torpedo on beach 11 miles east of Alexandria on 15 Jan 42 after one had killed the Torpedo Officer of HMS Medway (Lt Cdr J G S Cunningham RN - uncle of MCDOA member Tim Trounson) on 23 Sep 1940. Appointed MBE in New Year Honours 1952 for HM S/M Affray recovery.
FINCHAM Arthur John P/SSX18957	LS	HMS Fabius (Taranto)	11 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.
FIRMINGER¹ Anthony Reginald Joseph	Lt RNVR	HMS Cannae (Bone, Algeria)	22 Aug 43 8 Feb 44 30 May 44	DSM MID GM	Mine Disposal - DSM awarded posthumously for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty (to be dated 22 Aug 43). MID awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in clearing Messina harbour of enemy demolition charges Aug 43. GM awarded posthumously for rendering safe bombs and mines.
FLACK¹ John Chard C/JX145182	AB	Messina Port Party	8 Feb 44	MID	B&MD - MID awarded posthumously for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in clearing Messina harbour of enemy demolition charges Aug 43.
FLETCHER¹ Cecil Howarth P/J25354	PO	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 killing Commissioned Gunner (T) Reginald A. Cook, PO Cecil H. Fletcher, AB William B. Croake, AB William J. Stearns and AB Alfred E. Stevens.
FLOYD Albert John P/JX370637	AB	‘P’ Party 1571	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.
FORTT Frederick Ronald Bertram	S/Lt RNVR	Torpedo & Mining Department, HMS Vernon	27 Jun 41 9 Jun 42	GM Bar to GM	RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.Mine Disposal NW England Dec 40. Bar to GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine Disposal Nuneaton May 41.
FOULIS Crawford Raynor 71705V	Shipwright Second Class SANF	HMSAS Gamtoos	1 May 45	BEM	Diving - BEM awarded for outstanding service in diving operations and as tenders to the divers during the invasion of the South of France.
FOURACRE Percy P/JX219932	A/AB	HMS Vernon	20 Apr 43	BEM	RMS - BEM awarded for gallantry and devotion to duty. Mine Disposal Thames Oct 42.
FRANCIS James C/JX302801	LS	‘P’ Party 1571	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.
FRANKLIN Bernard Frank P/JX645592	Wireman	HMIS Himalaya (Karachi)	15 Jan 44	BEM	Diving - BEM awarded for bravery in diving to recover an unexploded depth charge in the fairway of a sea-plane base, and on another occasion in diving and removing the depth charges from a crashed aircraft.
FRANKLIN George Alan 'Franky'	A/Gunner (T) (later Lt Cdr)	HMS Wanderer (Modified 'W' Class destroyer)	20 Jun 44	MID²	CDO from 1950 - MID awarded for outstanding leadership, skill and devotion to duty on convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic.
FREEL James Michael D/JX149484	A/LS LS	HMS Talbot RN Special Service	18 Apr 44 29 Jun 45	CGM MID	Chariot Diver - Awarded CGM for Operation PRINCIPAL attack on Italian fleet in Palermo, Sicily Jan 43. Captured after placing charges on the 8,500 ton troop transport Viminale. Awarded MID for courage, determination and devotion to duty.
FRIEND Peter Donald	Lt (Sp) RNVR	HMS President (London) HMS Volcano Ravenglass) HMS Pembroke (Chatham)	27 Dec 40	GM	B&MD. GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Dealt with many bombs and mines in Medway Towns area. Rendered safe 1,000 lb bomb that dropped in oil tank of BP tanker 'British Explorer'.
FURNELL Percy Gawayne	Sub Lt RNVR	HMS Vernon	20 Dec 40	MID	RMS - MID awarded for courage, coolness and devotion to duty.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Back to Top

Back to History of RN Minewarfare & Clearance Diving

Home