From The Times, Wednesday, February 4, 1942 GEORGE MEDAL FOR R.A.F. CORPORAL Cpl. L.C. BRIDGEMAN. A vessel which was taking a naval and R.A.F salvage crew to an aircraft which had crashed into the sea on the previous day struck a mine and sunk. After the explosion the forepart of the vessel remained afloat for a short period, and Cp. Bridgeman, accompanied by a naval officer, descended to the hld in an endeavour to rescue the injured. In spite of warnings, Cpl. Bridgeman continued his rescue work and, when this part of the vessel capsized and sank, he went under with the wreckage. He managed to get clear and was rescued later. The naval officer lost his life. Although suffering from the effects of the explosion, Cpl. Bridgeman displayed great bravery.
This incident occurred off Singapore when the mooring vessel Buffalo hit a mine. Bridgeman was with No.151 MU at the time. Still attempting to discover more.
The following is from the London Times dated 8 Apr 41 and the CWGC website: ADMIRALTY VESSEL LOST AT SINGAPORE EIGHT BRITISH CASUALTIES An official inquiry has been opened by the naval authorities into the loss of the Admiralty mooring vessel Buffalo which fouled a mine, blew up, and sank while proceeding to salvage an aircraft on Friday, says Reuters. An official list issued yesterday states that eight of the British personnel of the naval base, including Commander R.R. Airey, R.N., and Lieutenant-Commander M. Beach-Thomas, R.N., as well as 12 Asiatic members of the crew, are missing and presumed to be dead. Two others died of injuries and 20 others, including a British signalman, have been injured and taken to hospital. The Times dated 8 Apr 41 CWGC states that Airey is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and Beach-Thomas on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. N.B. The paper article and info on another website suggest that the accident occurred on 4 Apr 41. A casualty list in the Times 12 November 1941 includes the following six RAF pers that "died on active service". All died 5 April 1941 and are commemorated on Singapore Memorial: W/C Farnhill G. Sgt Bryant G.P.F. Cpl Davis A.P. AC1 Martlew L. Cpl McKie J. Sgt Wiggin W.A. 4/Apr/1941 L6667, Bristol Blenheim I, 27 Sqn RAF. 33165. S/Ldr C.D. Hackett, RAF. Pilot + 42248. F/O J. Mansel-Lewis, RAF. Obs + 542557. Sgt Dennis Beaman, RAF. WOp/AG + T/o Kallang, Singapore. On air tactics. Spun into the sea 0230 GMT 5 km east of Singapore town. Cause unknown. A witness stated that the aircraft pulled out of a dive and appeared to be doing engine stall turns and went over on its back. Two of the crew are commemorated on the Singapore memorial and the Obs is buried in Kraji War Cemetery, Singapore (37.B.12). The loss of this Blenheim is fully documented in Graham Warners book "The Bristol Blenheim A Complete History" Page 532. F/O J. Mansel-Lewis managed to bail out but was struck a propeller and killed. The crash was witnessed by an RAF tug called the Buffalo which subsequently ran into a mine and all on board were killed.
