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BEM: British Empire Medal (now superseded by MBE)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

T

Lt RNVR

HMS President (London)

20 Apr 43

GM

RMS/BD - GM awarded for gallantry and devotion to duty. Mine disposal Thames Oct to Nov 42.

TAPPENDEN
William Thomas

P/J102838

AB

HMS Vernon

20 Dec 40

BEM

RMS - BEM awarded for Meritorious Service in recognition of gallant conduct and devotion to duty.

TAWN¹
Robert George

C/JX137109

HMS Vernon

HMS Vernon

9 Aug 40
14 Jan 41

DSM
BEM

RMS - 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 Vernon's 'The Mouse', a small motor launch specially fitted with Hotchkiss propulsion (no propeller). Also see SUTHERLAND and WHARTON.  Lt J. F. NICHOLSON RNVR, PO BENHAM plus one other manning 'The Mouse' survived.

TAYLOR
Alexander

R/JX243837

LS

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.

TAYLOR
Herbert John

Engineer Grade 1

Admiralty Mine Design Dept

1 Jan 41

MBE

Mine Design Department - Appointed MBE New Year Honours 1941.

TAYLOR
John Bernard

Sub Lt RNVR

LCOCU No.4

14 Nov 44

DSC

LCOCUs - Op Neptune invasion of Normandy.

TAYLOR
William Horace

Lt Cdr RNVR

HMS Vernon (D)

14 Jan 41
27 Jun 41
1 Jan 73

GC
Commend'n
MBE²

RMS and Port Clearance - GC awarded for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Mine disposal Sep to Oct 40 including bomb at RAF Uxbridge.

Commendation awarded for mine disposal.  An original Clearance Diver.

Appointed MBE New Year Honours 1973.

TEBBS
Frederick William (Bill)

C/SSX21021

A/LS
PO

HMS Puffin (Anti-submarine trawler)
LST 361

1 Jan 42
1 Aug 44

MID²
MID²

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

TELLIER
William Gaston

Lt RCNVR

Dept of Unexploded Bombs

12 May 42

GM

BD - GM awarded for courage and coolness. Disposed of unexploded shell on board HMS Prince of Wales at Rosyth 8 Jun 41.

TEWSON
Edward Timothy Cayley

Lt (Sp) RNVR

HMS Vernon

8 Dec 42
15 Feb 44

Commend'n
GM

RMS - Commendation awarded for mine disposal 1942.

GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Mine disposal UK Oct 42 to Oct 43.  Rendered safe first Type T mine at Portland.  Also towed another Type T mine from Lowestoft to a quiet beach where it was rendered safe by Lt Robert Nixon RNVR. 

THISTLETON-SMITH
Geoffrey, Sir

Cdr RN
A/Captain
Rear Admiral
Vice Admiral

HMS Vernon.
HMS Formidable.
Admiral Commanding Reserves.
BJSM Washington.

11 Mar 41
23 Jun 44
31 May 56
13 Jun 59

GM
MID²
CB²
KBE²

RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty  Recovered 2 booby-trapped mines dropped on land at North Boarhunt, Hampshire and Piddlehinton, Dorset 1940.

MID awarded for outstanding courage, resolution, leadership, skill or devotion to duty in operations which led to successful Op Avalanche landings on the Italian mainland and at Salerno.

Director (M) of Mine Design Department at HMS Vernon and West Leigh House during first years of war.

THOM
Walter

PO/X107028

Cpl RM

NP 1686

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.

THOMPSON
Albert Henry

PO/X101491

Marine

NP 1747

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.

THOMPSON
Henry Lorimer Frew

Sub Lt RNVR

HMS Vernon, HMS Nile (Alexandria), Beirut, Cyprus 

9 Nov 43

MBE

RMS - Appointed MBE for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Conducted mine disposal Eastern Med May to Jul 43.

THOMSON
David Alexander

Surg A/Lt Cdr RNVR

‘P’ Parties

13 Jun 46

OBE

Port Clearance Support - Appointed OBE King's Birthday Honours 1946.

TOWNLEY
Kenneth John.

Lt RNVR

Dept of Unexploded Bombs

9 Jun 42

GM

RMS - Mine disposal.

TUCKWELL
Stephen John

P/J166122

AB

AB

HMS Vernon

HMS Vernon

14 Jan 41
27 Jun 41

GC
Commend'n

BD and RMS - See below.

GC awarded for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. AB Tuckwell worked with Sub-Lt Miller on many occasions in the dangerous work of mine disposal and together they disposed of some ten of these deadly weapons. They were both awarded the George Cross for dealing with a mine that had fallen into the soft mud in Roding River, which runs into Barking Creek. Sub-Lt Miller decided to borrow a canoe and having put this on a fire-float with the necessary kit, he and AB Tuckwell went off up the creek to where the mine was thought to be lying. They then left the River Fire Service fire-float and went on in the canoe, until they sighted the black rim of the mine which was stuck in the mud by the nose. They worked together - AB Tuckwell having refused a suggestion that he should retire to a place of safety. He pointed out that as Sub-Lt Miller would be working under at least a foot of water he would need someone to hand him the tools - in short he preferred to take the same risks. They managed to get out one fuse, but could not reach the other, so appealed to several crane-drivers who had come to see what was happening, and they at once volunteered to help. The two experts got back into the water, put ropes round the mine, and with the assistance of the crane-drivers, the huge cylinder was dragged slowly out of the creek, over the muddy bank and up on to the wharf. The final stages of the operation were then completed in comparative comfort.

Commendation awarded for brave conduct and devotion to duty. Later served at 'HMS Mirtle', HMS Vernon's Mine Investigation Range at Buriton.

TUMIM
Anthony Elliot

P/JX426217

AB

‘P’ Party 1572

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.

TURNER
Edward John

P/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.

TURNER
Geoffrey Gledhill

Lt RNVR
Lt Cdr
Lt Cdr

HMS Vernon
HMS Vernon
HMS Lynx (Dover)

27 Jun 41
3 Nov 42
14 May 43

GC
Commend'n
GM

RMS -  See below.

GC awarded for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in mine disposal. Blown over by blast of GC mine on bridge near Richmond.

Lt Turner was called to deal with many unexploded mines in the early months of the Blitz. One fell near the LMS station at Sheffield, putting the station out of action as it fell with its parachute draped over a railway coach. On 21st December 1940 another fell in the wool factory, Great Howard Street, Liverpool and was partly suspended by its parachute, with its nose on the ground floor and the bomb-fuse hidden. Great care had to be taken in the handling of this mine which weighed nearly a ton. Sub-Lieutenant Turner was successful in removing the fuses of both these mines before they could explode.

He had more difficulty with one which fell in Seaforth, about 150 yards from the main Liverpool - Southport line and was almost completely buried in the small yard of a house in Cambridge Street. The mine was badly damaged and it was essential that it should be cleared as soon as possible. Sub-Lieutenant Turner rigged a wire and moved the mine so as to expose the fuse and enable the gag to be fitted. However, the fuse was damaged and only the top half came away, leaving the clockwork and operating mechanism in the mine. He then tried to pick out the remains of the fuse with his fingers. He had almost managed this when the mine's timer mechanism started to operate, and Sub-Lieutenant Turner quickly retreated. When there was no explosion he waited for a few minutes and then returned to the mine, to complete the disposal work, not knowing how much time was left before the mine would explode. As soon as Sub-Lieutenant Turner touched the parts of the mechanism still left in the mine, the timer mechanism started again. Almost at once the mine exploded. Sub-Lieutenant Turner was wounded and severely shocked, but somehow survived the explosion.

Commendation awarded  for brave conduct during mine disposal Dec 41 to Mar 42. 

GM awarded for great bravery.  Participated in mine disposal at Fairlight near Hastings, Sussex 4-5 Jan 43.