^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BEM: British Empire Medal (now superseded by MBE)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

N

NEILSON
Joseph Muirhead

C/JX320294

PO

‘P’ Party 1573

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.

NELSON
Harry Elvin

P/JX172374

Ord Seaman

HMS Vernon

14 Jan 41

BEM

RMS - BEM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.

NEWGASS
Harold Reginald

Lt RNVR (Later Lt Cdr)

HMS President (London)

4 Mar 41

GC

RMS - See below.

GC awarded for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  On 28 Nov 40 a German mine fell in Garston Gas Works, Liverpool and paralysed industry over a large area. The mine had fallen through the top of a large gasometer and the parachute had become entangled in the hole in the roof. The hole torn by the mine had allowed some of the gas to escape and the roof to sink, until the mine rested on the floor nearly upright, nose down in some seven feet of foul, oily water, and leaning against one of the brick pillars six feet high, on which the iron pillars supporting the roof were based.  The bomb fuse was against the pillar and in order to get to it the mine had to be turned. Lt Newgass who dealt with this assignment, one of the most dangerous ever undertaken, tackled the job entirely on his own. He could only breathe at all with oxygen supplied in cylinders, six of which he used during the operation. On the first cylinder he did his inspection and made his plan. On the second he took down his tools and a ladder. On the third he put sandbags round the nose of the mine, climbed to the top of a brick pillar and lashed the top of the mine to the iron roof support. On the fourth he turned the mine, removed the bomb fuse and unit primer and detonator. On the fifth he turned the mine again and undid the clock keep ring and on the last cylinder he withdrew the clock - and the mine was safe.

NICKSON
William Raymond

Lt RNVR

HMS Vernon

3 Nov 42

GM

RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine disposal UK May 41 to July 42.

NIXON
William

P/SSX17748

AB

HMS Vernon

9 Aug 40

MID

RMS - MID awarded for courage and skill in dealing with an unexploded bomb.

NOVIS
Thomas Douglas

P/JX179168

Ord Seaman

AB

HMS Drake

Unknown

23 Jan 41
27 Jun 41

GM
Commend'n

BD and RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine disposal London 15 Oct 40.

Commendation awarded for brave conduct and devotion to duty. Driver/assistant to Sub Lt Brooke-Smith.