Merchant Navy awards

From The Times, July 30, 1941:

O.B.E.
Captain Alexander Mann CAIRD, Master

The ship was attacked by a surface raider. A shell wrecked the steering gear and the gun. Salvo after salvo hit the ship and the master signalled that he was abandoning her. This was acknowledged but the firing went on. The master found the chief officer badly wounded and carried him down the ladders from the wheel-house to the main deck and then went back to look for another man. The enemy opened fire with machine-guns. Two boats had been got away but the others were shot to pieces. Those left on board launched two rafts and just before the ship sank jumped overboard and swam to them. One of the rafts overtuned but nearly all on it were got on to the other and, after 18 hours in a rough sea, they were picked up.

 

From The Times, July 30, 1941:

O.B.E.
Captain Leslie Clair CHURCH, Master

The ship was torpedoed, caught fire and settled by the head. She was then abandoned, but the master kept close to her in order to board her again if she did not founder. A man-of-war took the crew on board, but Capt. Church at once advised the commanding officer of his wish to remain by his ship till he was sure that she could not be saved and, calling for volunteers, he returned to her. At dawn they boarded the vessel and found that the heavy seas had put out the fire. Steam was raised and the ship brought safe to port. The courage shown in returning in heavy weather to a ship laden with oil fuel, on fire and holed, was in the high traditions of the Merchant Navy.

 

From The Times, July 30, 1941:

O.B.E.
Captain Edward Woolman RUTHERFORD, Master

Six attacks were made on the ship with bombs, cannon and machine-guns. There was a high sea running and speed was low. When aircraft were first sighted engines were ordered full speed ahead. Gun crews closed up and answered the enemy with vigour. In the first attack a bomb fell on the deck on the starboard side. The engines stopped and the steering gear was useless. The engines stopped and the steering gear was useless. The ship was fought until the bombers had made off and the master then ordered his crew to the boats. Several men were wounded, and it took two hours in the heavy seas to transfer them to a trawler. Some hours later Captain Rutherford, two officers and a volunteer boat's crew returned to the ship to try to save her. The ship was again attacked and more bombs fell. The master ordered the men away. The master's courage and determination were outstanding and he did what he could to save his ship.

 

From The Times, July 30, 1941:

M.B.E.
Edward Wallace DINGLE, Second Officer

The ship was attacked by a raider and was abandoned. The second officer had charge of a boat in which were 26 others. He decided that it was better to try to run for it than to be taken on board the enemy ship, and every man loyally supported him. They hid in the bottom of the boat during searchlight sweeps by the enemy. After the escape they had to beat to windward about 1,000 miles. The only aids to navigation were a Norries table and a boat's compass, and for provisions there were 24 tins of condensed milk, some biscuits, and 15 gallons of water. The second officer, by his example and enterprise, was the means of saving 27 officers and men of the Merchant Navy from into the hands of the enemy.

 

From The Times, July 30, 1941:

M.B.E.
Rodrick MacKENZIE, Chief Officer

The ship was moored during a heavy air raid. Fires which started close to the ship became so fierce that it was imperative to move her as soon as possible. The chief officer ordered steam to be raised, and the ship was then moved across the dock. High-explosive bombs were falling and started fires on board, which were tackled at once. The chief officer showed coolness and courage, and, under his direction, the crew prevented the fires from spreading and saved the ship from heavy damage.

 

From The Times, July 30, 1941:

B.E.M.
Eric BLACKBURN, Gunner

The ship was attacked by an enemy aircraft. She at once replied. A second attack was then made with bombs and guns. Blackburn, manning the Lewis guns on the port side, ran over to the starboard side and continued to fire at the enemy aircraft. It was due to his coolness and good aim that the aircraft dived steeply on to the water and burst into flames.

 

From The Times, July 30, 1941:

B.E.M.
William KERR, Lamp Trimmer

Four bombers attacked the ship in line astern. The first and third dropped bombs, the second and fourth machine-gunned her. Near misses deluged the vessel and she was hit by man bullets. In a second attack bombs fell close, lifting the ship out of the water. As soon as the enemy were sighted the guns' crews closed. Kerr handled the Lewis gun on the bridge in a determined manner, timing well, firing steadily, and scoring hits. He had no steel helmet or other protection, but he carried on, though his gun barrel was so hot that it burnt his hands. The way in which a formidable attack was answered showed a fine fighting spirit throughout the ship.

 

From The Times, August 27, 1941:

BRAVERY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MEMBERS OF MERCHANT NAVY

O.B.E.
Robert Edward STANKLEY, Chief Engineer

M.B.E.
Norman Frederick FITCH, Chief Officer

The ship was attacked three times by enemy aircraft which dropped bombs, one of which started a fire. Stankley, though wounded, went to the engine-room and saw to the withdrawal of his staff. He then helped to get the boats away. Later he fought the fire and, when the vessel again got under way, controlled the engines until the ship reached port.

Fitch saw to the taking-off of wounded passengers and then arranged fire-parties and fought the fires. It was due largely to the courage and determination of the two officers that the ship was saved and brought safe to port.

 

From The Times, August 27, 1941:

BRAVERY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MEMBERS OF MERCHANT NAVY

M.B.E.
Ralph Churchill ELLIS, Third Officer

The ship was hit by bombs and heavily damaged amidships. Fires were started. The captain, chief officer, and chief engineer were killed and the second officer was badly wounded. Ellis, who was below when the attack started, went on deck and organized rescue and fire-fighting parties. It was due mainly to his good work that four boats were got away. He was tireless throughout in helping the wounded and in searching for survivors and he did all he could to ensure that the surviving passengers and crew should be brought to safety.

 

From The Times, August 27, 1941:

BRAVERY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MEMBERS OF MERCHANT NAVY

M.B.E.
William REDDINGTON, Chief Engineer

The ship which was attacked by a submarine, was sunk by the second of two torpedoes. Thompson was in the chart room and fell through the deck into the master's room below. Back on the bridge he found the master suffering from shock and the second and third officers killed. Although wounded himself, he carried the master - a man of 15st. - to the port lifeboat and got it away with 27 survivors. He searched for the other lifeboat without success and then set sail towards port, about 500 miles away. Nine days later the boat reached land. She had been navigated without charts or instruments. Thompson judged his course by dead reckoning and his resource, coolness, and skill were the means of saving many lives.

 

From The Times, August 27, 1941:

BRAVERY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MEMBERS OF MERCHANT NAVY

B.E.M.
Alexander DALZIEL, Ordinary Seaman

After his ship had been torpedoed, the master was trapped in the forecastle with a broken arm. Dalziel, hearing a faint cry, groped his way through darkness and debris, found the master, and released him. He then dragged him to the deck, slid down the side of the sinking ship to the water, and helped him cling to a log until the two men were picked up an hour and a half later by a rescue ship.

 

From The Times, September 24, 1941:

GEORGE CROSS FOR GALLANT SEAMAN
AIDED OFFICER ALTHOUGH MORTALLY WOUNDED.

The King has awarded the George Cross to:-

Henry Herbert REED, (deceased), gunner.

The ship was attacked by enemy aircraft with cannon, machine-guns, and bombs. She replied at once with her defensive armament and the men at the guns went on firing despite the hail of bullets and cannon shell.

Gunner Reed behaved with the utmost gallantry. He was badly wounded, but when the Master asked how he was, he said that he would carry on. The Chief Officer was also badly wounded. Reed carried him from the bridge down two ladders to the deck below, and placed him in shelter near a lifeboat. Gunner Reed then died. It was afterwards found that his stomach had been ripped open by machine-gun bullets.

By his gallant and utterly selfless action Gunner Reed saved the life of the Chief Officer.

-

Gunner Reed was a single man of 30. His mother said yesterday that letters for the crew stated that her son not only carried the wounded Chief Officer to safety but also carried from the bridge the steward, who had been wounded. Gunner Reed was the only man on board to lose his life. The Chief Officer and steward both recovered, and the ship was brought safely to harbour.

 

From The Times, November 19, 1941:

O.B.E.
Captain William John CLOKE, Master

The master saw an aircraft flying directly at the ship. He jumped to the gun and trained it on the enemy, who was by now half a mile away and a perfect target. He fired a full belt. The enemy swerved to starboard and just cleared the stern, dropping one bomb before he came down in the sea. The master's prompt action and good shooting saved the ship.

 

From The Times, November 19, 1941:

O.B.E.
Captain George William POUNTNEY, master

Captain Pountney has a record of gallant service in Mediterranean waters. By day and night his command., escorted and unescorted, has been many times attacked from the air. On one occasion she was heavily attacked by two flights of dive-bombers. She was badly damaged, but by ceaseless pumping she was able to join a convoy the same day. Master and crew accepted all risk as their normal lot, although their freight was such that even one tracer bullet through the unprotected wooden hatch-covers might have blown it up.

 

From The Times, November 19, 1941:

O.B.E.
Captain John KERR, master

B.E.M.
Donald MacNEIL, boatswain

The ship was torpedoed in mid-ocean. The crew got away in two lifeboats, the master and three officers staying on board in hopes of salving the vessel. A second torpedo struck her and, in the second boat. The next morning they decided to make for land, but during the night the two boats became separated. The starboard boat was picked up after nine days, but the port boat, under the master, sailed 1,200 miles in 19 days before being picked up. Captain Kerr's leadership and good seamanship saved the lives of 21 persons in the boat. He was greatly helped by MacNeil, who showed skill in handling the boat under sail in the rough weather.

 

From The Times, November 19, 1941:

M.B.E.
Richard Hamilton AYRES, second mate.

The ship was torpedoed and three boats were got away. One, in command of the second mate, set out with 31 men, eight of them Europeans and 23 Indians. Only the second mate had any skill with boats. They lay to a sea-anchor until dawn, when they set sail and steered east. Ayres fixed the water ration at two dippers a day and gave the Indians, who were least able to withstand the cold, the forward part of the boat under the canvas cover, and all the blankets. After seven days only seven men remained alive, the rest having died of exposure or from drinking sea water. By the eighth day the water had all gone, and the men's hands and feet were badly frostbitten. After 13 days land was sighted. They were too weak to use the oars, so they ran under shortened sail for the shore. A comber broached them to, overturned the boat, and all hands were thrown into the sea. Another breaker righted her and the second mate pulled himself aboard and helped to drag in others. Again she turned turtle. The only three men to survive this last ordeal now clung to the keel. One let go his hold and the others were too weak to help him.

The second mate and seaman struck out desperately for the shore. The seaman scrambled to a rock, but before he could be rescued he was washed back into the sea and was not seen again. Ayres was unconscious when hauled ashore.

See post no 317 for more information from Hugh

 

From The Times, November 19, 1941:

M.B.E.
James Flett, first radio officer, m.-v. San Casimiro

The ship was attacked and captured by an enemy raider. When she was first sighted, Flett sent a message giving her position although the enemy jammed his set and the order had been given by signal lamp not to use it. The enemy opened fire, but Flett went on with his message until the aerial was shot away. The ship, as a result of Flett's messages, was found by one of H.M. ships and was scuttled by the enemy. Flett was thrown into the water, and it was some time before he was picked up.

 

From The Times, December 17, 1941:

THE MERCHANT NAVY
BRAVERY UNDER ENEMY ATTACKS

O.B.E.
Captain David Rattray MacFARLANE, master
George Cormack MacDOUGALL, chief engineer

Captain MacFarlane was commodore of an important convoy. By his steadfast and resolute behaviour during enemy attacks he set a high standard, and it is largely due to his leadership that the operation was successful.

Mr MacDougall, chief engineer of one of the ships, maintained throughout a critical period of 24 hours a speed of only one knot less than her maximum, in spite of a broken piston and a port engine that required careful nursing.

 

From The Times, December 17, 1941:

THE MERCHANT NAVY
BRAVERY UNDER ENEMY ATTACKS

O.B.E.
Captain Charles Thomas STONE, Master

The ship saved over a hundred lives after an attack by U-boats. There was a south-westerly gale, with fierce rain squalls, a high sea, and a heavy swell. The sea was covered with bales of cork, likely to foul the propellor, but by fine seamanship a lee was made and many men were picked up. The master decided to search still father, and men of another vessel were rescued. On many other occasions the master has shown courage and has handled his ship skilfully.

 

From The Times, December 17, 1941:

THE MERCHANT NAVY
BRAVERY UNDER ENEMY ATTACKS

O.B.E.
Captain Harold George Thorne BOOTH, master

M.B.E.
William Reginald PINCHBECK, chief officer
James Newsome GRANT, third officer

The ship, laden with explosives, was in harbour when the port was attacked by many enemy bombers. The master put up a stout defence and the third officer, though he had no shelter, did notable work at the Hotchkiss. The ship caught fire and, although all fire-fighting service lines had been severed, the crew worked to put out the fire with buckets of water and sand. The master, the chief officer, and the third officer stood by the ship until the last minute trying to save her.

As the fire was fast gaining hold and the cargo was likely to explode, the master ordered abandon ship. Fifteen minutes later, when the officers and men were ashore and some way, from the ship, she blew up.