Under Development.  Contributions and corrections welcome.

 

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BEM: British Empire Medal (now superseded by MBE)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

 

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

W

WADSLEY
Herbert Edgar

Sub Lt RNVR
Lt
Lt

Mining Department
HMS Vernon

20 Dec 40
28 Apr 42
15 Aug 44

GM
Bar to GM
DSC

RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine disposal London 17 Sep 40.

Bar to GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Participated in bomb and mine disposal London Feb to May 41.

DSC awarded for courage and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine disposal Channel 21 Apr 44.

WALDEN
Leonard

Temporary Experimental Assistant II

HMS Vernon

28 Feb 41
28 Nov 41

GM
Commend'n

Mine Disposal Research - GM awarded for conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner.  Admiralty civilian scientist in Mine Design Department, HMS Vernon although he served in the Home Guard. Stripped first booby-trapped acoustic mine at 'HMS Mirtle', Buriton among others.

Commendation awarded for mine disposal research.

WALDMAN
Neil MacSween

Lt Cdr RNR

HMS Nile (Alexandria)

2 Nov 43

GM

B&MD - GM awarded for great bravery and undaunted devotion to duty.  Conducted B&MD around Tripoli Mar - Apr 43.

WALTON
Arthur

D/J97359

 

PO

PO

Mediterranean
HMS Stag (Suez)

Mediterranean
HMS Stag (Suez)

1 Jan 42
29 Jun 43

MID
BEM

Diving - MID awarded New Year Honours 1942.

BEM awarded for leadership, bravery and skill in the performance of diving operations of a hazardous nature.

WARMAN
Thomas Edward

P/MX39497

Chief ERA

HMS Hamilcar (Messina)

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.

WARREN
George Harold

PO/X115137

Marine

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.

WATERS
Richard Aitken

Lt (Sp) RNVR

HMS Vernon

23 Oct 45

GM

B&MD - See below.

Lieutenant Waters was ordered to recover a Seehunde Midget Submarine which had been stranded on a sandbank near Walcheren.  The operation began on 13th January, 1945 and was completed on 5th February, 1945, under extremely difficult conditions.  The submarine was practically buried in sand and it was impossible to remove the portside torpedo pistol until it was dug out a little.  When he did attempt to remove the pistol Lieutenant Waters found that it had to be removed by hand, as it had jammed, and had to be started with a cold chisel and hammer.  Later when it was possible to remove the starboard torpedo he again had to use a hammer, some two feet under freezing water, in order to recover the pistol from the torpedo which was not fully in the safe condition.  He also had to remove the detonators and primers from this pistol by force, a most dangerous task, which took, three and a half hours.  A slightly inaccurate blow with the hammer during any of these operations would have certainly resulted in an explosion which would probably have had fatal consequences, a fact of which Lieutenant Waters was fully aware.

 

This was the first Seehunde to be recovered so completely and this successful operation resulted in full knowledge being obtained of the latest German midget submarine, which was a menace to our coastal and cross-channel shipping.

WEBB
Charles

D/JX356626

 

PO

‘P’ Party 1571

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.

WEST
Harold

Lt RN

Lt RN

Lt RN

Lt RN

 

HMS Escort
HMS Vernon

RN Barracks, Portsmouth

HMS Pembroke
(Torpedo School, Chatham)

24 Apr 40
24 Apr 40
20 Dec 40
4 Mar 41

MID2
DSC
MID
Bar to DSC

RMS - First MID awarded for devotion to duty in rescuing, rendering first aid to, and caring for, many survivors from a Liner sunk by the enemy.

DSC awarded for courage and skill in securing and stripping live enemy mines without regard for his own safety.

Second MID awarded for courage, coolness and devotion to duty.  Mine Disposal.

Bar to DSC awarded for gallantry and skill. German parachute mine RN Barracks, Portsmouth.

WESTLAKE
George

D/J21420

CPO

HMS Khedive (Aircraft Carrier)

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.

WHARLDALL
Richard Brotherton
PJX519367

Ord Sea

'P' Parties 1574 and 2443

13 Mar 1945

DSM

Port Clearance - DSM awarded for outstanding courage, leadership and skill during the build-up of the Normandy bridgehead.

WHEELER
George Hughes

P/J29335

CPO

HMS Vernon

20 Dec 40

BEM

RMS - BEM awarded for Meritorious Service in recognition of gallant conduct and devotion to duty. Helped Hodges recover booby-trapped GC mine from field by Minnis Bay near Birchington, Kent in which an ati-handling charge exploded in the mining shed at HMS Vernon killing one officer and four ratings. 

WHINNEY
Brian Toller

Ty Elec Lt RNVR
A/Lt Cdr

MV Empire Salvage
Force G

2 Sep 41
14 Nov 44

MID
DSC

RMS - MID awarded for bravery and devotion to duty. Dealt with unexploded bomb.

DSC awarded for Op Neptune invasion of Normandy.

WILKINSON
Stephen Austin

Sub Lt RNVR

HMS Vernon

15 Aug 44

MID

RMS - MID awarded for courage and undaunted devotion to duty. He lost the use of his right hand after a flooder cutter exploded while he was rendering safe a German GP moored influence mine, one of several captured on a barge in Antwerp, at Frater Armament Depot in December 1944.  He had been a concert pianist before the war.

WILSON
Douglas Walter

C/JX146933

AB

HMS Watchful (Great Yarmouth)

24 Apr 40

DSM

RMS - DSM awarded for courage and skill in securing and stripping live enemy mines without regard for his own safety.

With Spriggs as assistant to Edwards  in rendering safe mines in 1940.

WILSON
Duncan

P/JX294608

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.

WINGROVE
Frank Walter

P/J17269

AB

HMS Vernon

14 Jan 41

GM

RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine disposal UK Jul to Sep 40.

WOOD
Albert Beaumont

Dr (Chief Scientific Advisor)

HMS Vernon

1 Jan 42

OBE

Mine Disposal Research - Appointed OBE New Year Honours 1942.  Principal Scientific Officer in Mine Design Dept, HMS Vernon

WOOD
George Albert

P/MX99079

PO Wireman (L)

HMS Hamilcar (Messina)

1 May 45

BEM

Diving - BEM awarded for outstanding service in diving operations and as tender to the divers during the invasion of the South of France.

WOOD
William Norman

L/DX3745

AB RNVR

HMS President (London)

20 Dec 40

MID

RMS - MID awarded for courage, coolness and devotion to duty.

WOODROW
James Kerr

Lt RNVR

HMS President (London)

15 Aug 44
26 Jun 45

GM
Bar to GM

BD - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Mine disposal UK 1942 to 1943.

Bar to GM awarded for gallantry, skill and inspiring devotion to duty in disposing of damaged ammunition in the magazines of HMS Thane Jan/Feb 45 after she had been torpedoed. Lt Cdr Woodrow handled the first batch of damaged ammunition by himself in order to give confidence to his party.

WOODS
Maurice Henry

P/JX519951

A/AB

‘P’ Party 1571

15 May 45

GM

Port Clearance - 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.  Identified GC mine Quai Homet dry dock, Cherbourg subsequently rendered safe by Harries.

WOODS
Richard Morris

 

A/PO

HMS Elissa (Messina)

20 Jun 44

GM

Port Clearance - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  Involved in clearance of Messina harbour 17 Aug-2 Sep 43.

WOOLLCOTT
Sydney (Butch)

P/JX326938

A/PO

HM Chariot Tiny

6 Mar 45

DSM

Chariot Diver - Participated in attack on Italian liners Sumatra (4.859 tons) and Volpi (5,292 tons) at Phuket north of Penang 28 Oct 44. Sub-Lt 'Lofty' Eldridge with Petty Officer Woollcott successfully attacked and sunk the Sumatra in a text-book raid. Both crews returned to the Trenchant and were able to watch as their targets exploded.

WOOLLEY
Edward Dutton

Electrical Lt RNVR

HMS Vernon

10 Jan 41
16 Jun 42

GM
Bar to GM

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

Bar to GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.

Dealt with mine on third storey of flour mill in London's docklands Oct 40 with AB Pearson. Fuze clock re-started twice but mine was rendered safe.  Later conducted B&MD in Malta.

WORSLEY
Eric

Sub Lt RNVR
Lt RNVR

Portsmouth

11 Mar 41
23 Sep 41

GM
MBE

BD - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.  BSO at Portsmouth and conducted BD at HMS Collingwood, Fareham 18-19 Oct 40.

Appointed MBE for BD after air raid Portsmouth 10 Mar 41.

WRIGHT
Graham Maurice

Sub Lt RNVR

HMS Vernon

9 Jun 42

GM

RMS - GM awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty. Dealt with GC mine suspended over stage of London Palladium Theatre 11 May 41 by climbing a ladder.  The fuze started ticking during removal but the mine failed to explode.

Reported missing presumed killed on 19 Aug 1941 while en route to Gibraltar on board the torpedoed troopship SS Aguila.

 

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

 

 

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