Merchant Navy awards

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by dbf, May 23, 2009.

  1. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Forgive me if this is a duplicate, does anyone know why these two men were awarded the BEM (part of a very like list:

    The Supplement to the London Gazette dated 3 January 1945 records the award of the British Empire Medal to William Drew, Boatswain and Emmanuel Heilbron, Chief Steward; both of the La Pampa. There is no citation.
     
  2. Mike Kinnear

    Mike Kinnear Junior Member

     
  3. Mike Kinnear

    Mike Kinnear Junior Member

    Dear Roy,


    I hope the below helps


    William Drew

    BEM (CD) – 1945 Birthday Honours – when Boatswain

    LA PAMPA (Buries, Markes Ltd.)

    08 June 1945 Gazette Issue 37122, Supplement 3057 published 15 June 1945


    Emmanuel Heilbron

    BEM (CD) – 1945 New Year’s Honours – when Chief Steward

    LA PAMPA (Buries Markes Ltd.)

    29 December 1944 Gazette Issue 36869, Supplement 134, published 03 January 1945


    There would be no Citations.


    Cheers

    Mike
     
  4. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks Mike,
    I wondered what they got the award for.
    Cheers,
    Roy
     
  5. Robert Morrell

    Robert Morrell New Member


    Hi Mike,

    I'm trying to find news of my father whom was there in UK during WW2.

    He was born William Robert Morrell, but, in my lifetime, always known as Bob, & so I guess might have similarly used R W Morrell back then if there was confusion with other Morrells.

    It's a long shot for me. All I know is that he was in the water, got burns, Merchant Navy.
    He would never talk of it.

    He died in 1981 aged 55.
    He was the youngest survivor of over 9 brothers.
    Post-war worked for his father's business H Morrell & Sons (builders).

    If I don't hear from you I'll guess either I'm on the wrong track or your email address is no longer used...or something else.

    Kind regards,
    Robert Morrell
     
  6. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    The Czechoslovak War Cross 1939 -1945 was awarded to the following MN personnel: Lancelot Hill, Chief Officer MAHOMED ALI EL KEBIR; the Master lost his life before the award. Francis Nesbit, Master NORTHMOOR who "showed great zeal and energy" rescuing 1,563 from Sète. Herbert Wilson, Master GIBEL DERSA. Edward Davies, Master APAPA. Thomas Muckle, Master ROD EL FARAG.


    The Masters of the merchant ships had been asked to recommend one of their crew, but some did not.
     
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  7. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Panels from Tower Hill Memorial
    upload_2018-9-6_11-40-58.png

    upload_2018-9-6_11-37-56.png upload_2018-9-6_11-49-39.png
     
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  8. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

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  9. Sophie lucia

    Sophie lucia Member


    I think this amazing man maybe my great grandpa I am so happy to find this post about him. My mother told a story how his ship was torpedoed 7 times and he kept the spirits of the sailors up, and then he was awarded a medal. It’s got to be him. A Scot.
     
  10. Sophie lucia

    Sophie lucia Member

    I think this brave amazing man might be my great grandpa. Mum told me a story of his ship being torpedoed 7 times and he saved all the men on board and was awarded a medal. A Scot he was. He was singing and keeping the spirits of the sailors up. It’s got to be him.
     
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  11. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Welcome Sophie,
    John Porteous was born in Stranraer on 9th June 1875. By all accounts he had quite a war. By 1942 he had been at sea for 44 years and was 67 years old when EMPIRE HOWARD was sunk. I know he served aboard ENOSIS in 1915 when she was torpedoed. He was also aboard ss GARTAVON which was sunk by gunfire from U-47 (Gunther Prien) 4 days into WW2. All survived and were picked up by the Swedish ship CASTOR.
    I can help you with his other records if you wish. I also believe his son survived the sinking of ATHENIA when torpedoed in 1939.

    john porteous.png LG.png

    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2022
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  12. Qu1ckn1ck

    Qu1ckn1ck Member

    My father's Kings Commendation for his actions on ss Harmatris during Arctic Convoy PQ8;

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. Sophie lucia

    Sophie lucia Member

    Thanks for this information. His son who was also John Porteous would be my grandpa.
    My mother was Scottish and she moved to Sweden, where she lived and where I live and have been born, so it’s very interesting that a Swedish ship rescued them. I feel very proud and humble to great grandpas bravery. Would it have been the King at that time who gave him his medal ?
     
  14. Sophie lucia

    Sophie lucia Member

    Are there any records of grandpas records on the Athenia?
     
  15. Sophie lucia

    Sophie lucia Member

    I have now found out that there were five sons. Archie, Colin, Fred, Bill and John ( my grandpa) he was a health inspector, so it can’t be him. We think it might be Colin who was on the Athenia . Colin and Archie were in the war.
     
  16. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    I can tell you that Colin Porteous was the ATHENIA's Third Officer when she was torpedoed. He was landed at Galway, Ireland on 5 Sept 1939. Just two days later his father John Porteous was aboard the GARTAVON which was sunk by gunfire from U-47. Both survived their ordeal.

    Colin's WW2 service record - called a CRS 10 - should be held at Kew in piece BT 382/1437. Best obtained by visit to Kew or via a researcher. His WW2 medal file is the only record you can obtain online for free and you can download it here: BT 395/1/78508 I can tell you he was awarded 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star + Clasp and the War Medal.

    John Porteous CRS 10 will be held at Kew in piece BT 382/1439 again best obtained by visit to the archives or via a reserarcher. He has a Combined Operations Merchant Navy (COMNO) Pouch held at Kew in piece BT 391/88/160 so he must have seen service during the Normandy Campaign or beyond.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  17. Sophie lucia

    Sophie lucia Member

    I thank you so much for this information, is there any explaination for the different medals, what they were awarded for. I found out great grandpa did the Murmansk run, I think he was a convoy ship to the Murmansk. i have some information I found, can try and send it and maybe it can be verified.
    Where did the Empire Howard run ?
    This is what i found , I think great granpa would be in Convoy 14.
    Greatful for any help . My Mum passed away in 2020 so its now my cousin in Canada and me in Sweden trying to find out about the history.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Sophie lucia

    Sophie lucia Member

    What was the Normandie Campaign ?
     
  19. Sophie lucia

    Sophie lucia Member

    I found out that my great grandpa was in one of the Arctic convoys, my called them the "Murmansk runs". I am not enirely sure yet of the number of the convoy that was great grandpas.
     
  20. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Your great g/father survived the sinking of EMPIRE HOWARD on the Murmansk run - convoy PQ 14. Empire Howard (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net
    The Normandy Campaign was the Allied invasion of northern Europe that began on June 6, 1944, with the largest amphibious landing in history in Normandy, France. Also called Operation Overlord.

    Medal criteria here: Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility

    As John Porteous served aboard EMPIRE HOWARD his family would be entitled to apply for the relatively new medal the Arctic Star. To obtain it official proof of service would be required though. Without his surviving Discharge Book, then the file I pointed to #1176 above, BT 382/1439 would provide that evidence of service as well as all the other ships he served aboard during WW2 and I would recommend you obtain it.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2022

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