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BEM: British Empire Medal (now superseded by MBE)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
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.
WATERS Richard Aitken	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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