Merchant Navy awards

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

M.B.E.
George Reginald CHARLTON, chief engineer
When the ship was attacked by a submarine, orders were given to proceed at utmost speed, and the engines were fully opened out. The strain, however, was too great for the forward H.P. cylinder, which burst. After nearly eight hours' work the forward engine was disconnected and the ship was able to proceed on the after engine. A full gale blew for four days, and the engine-room was flooded. The chief engineer, despite all the difficulties, maintained steam until the ship reached port.

 

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

M.B.E.
Alexander Muir DUGUID, chief engineer.
The ship struck a mine and, the chief engineer found the engine-room badly damaged, with a mixture of oil and water everywhere. Although the vessel was badly listed to port he and his staff got the engines running and were able to bring the ship into port.

 

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

M.B.E.
Ieuan Prys ELLIS, chief officer
After being torpedoed in darkness the ship began to settle. The chief officer, who was responsible for getting the passengers away, showed great energy and leadership, and saved many lives.

 

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

M.B.E.
Valentine Thomas Basil GODFREY, chief engineer.

Hit by bombs the ship caught fire. The chief officer was badly wounded, and all the other executive officers were killed. The chief engineer took charge of the after starboard lifeboat and got it away with 14 of the ship's company, some of whom were wounded. After transferring these to another ship he returned with a party to his own vessel. The fire was now out, but the steam lines had all gone, and there was about 2ft. of water in the engine-room, covering the dynamos. The chief engineer at once made arrangements for towing, and the ship was brought into port.

 

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

M.B.E.
Captain Jacob Marcus HARRISON, master

The ship, which was damaged by bombs, was taken in tow, but all efforts to check the inflow of water failed, and she sank. There was a heavy sea running, but, under the leadership of Captain Harrison, the crew got away.

 

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

M.B.E.
Ralph Edward HUGGINS, master

B.E.M.
Frank Sam FERGUSON, trimmer,
William SMITH, cook-steward.

When attacked by three enemy aircraft the ship replied and one aircraft was seen to be hit. The enemy made a second attack. Smoke was now pouring from one aircraft and its rear gun was out of action. It flew off and was not seen again. The other two made a third attack and then flew off. During the first attack the starboard gun jammed, but it was cleared by the trimmer who was quite unmoved by the machine-gun bullets and shells which were bursting round him.

Two boys, who shared the fearless spirit of the crew, had run out on deck against orders and were hit by machine-gun bullets and one of them was killed. the cook-steward ran out to save them, and in doing so was wounded, but he brought them in. The fine example of the master was followed by all his crew, and their determined resistance saved their ship from further attack.

 

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

GEORGE MEDAL
Captain John Robert ATKINSON, master
Thomas Edward BRAMLEY, chief engineer

After an explosion caused by a mine, the stoker on duty was missing The chief engineer had tried to enter the stokehold, but could not, owing to the heat from a broken steam pipe. The master tried to reach the stoker by the alley-way leading to the engine-room, a narrow passage which, as the ship was settling by the stern, was flooded to a depth of 3ft. The stokehold was full of steam, but they found the stoker's body and transferred it to a ship that was standing by.

Fireman JAMES MORRIS S.S. Calcium (Liverpool), Merchant Navy who died age 27 on 30 December 1940

Remembered with honour BELMONT (ST. PETER) CHURCHYARD
CWGC :: Casualty Details

See post no 278 for further information from Hugh

 

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

GEORGE MEDAL
Captain Ivor Llewellyn PRICE, O.B.E., master
The ship was attacked by a surface raider. The master turned away and burnt smoke floats. Owing to the strong wind these did not wholly screen the ship, but gave better cover to three other ships. The raider directed its full attention to the ship, firing as he closed, before it subsequently made off. Captain Price, after picking up survivors, proceeded to port.

 

From The Times, June 11, 1941:

GALLANTRY AT SEA
AWARDS FOR MERCHANT NAVY

B.E.M.
Evan Owen GRIFFITHS, seaman

When four men jumped overboard from a burning ship Griffiths, who was responsible for obtaining a boat, picked up the others. There were biscuits but no water in the boat and the men suffered much from thirst until heavy rain fell on the eleventh day. The biscuits were finished on the thirty-first day. On the forty-first day they were picked up. The men owed their lives to the resource and courage of Griffiths.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

O.B.E.
Captain Philip Edmund BIRCH, master

The ship went to the help of another which had been torpedoed. While she was rescuing the crew she was attacked by two submarines. The master handled his vessel with skill. He used his gun well, and one of the submarines was seen to dive suddenly.
On another occasion the ship was machine-gunned and bombed by enemy aircraft. The master instantly replied with his gun. The ship was holed and set on fire, and the crew were ordered to the boats. They returned later and, without help, brought the vessel to port. In both actions the master showed courage and tenacity.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

O.B.E.
Captain Arthur Patterson, Master

M.B.E.
Mr. Edgar Stenstrom ANHOLM, Second Officer

B.E.M.
Herbert PHYTHIAN, Seaman, and
Gysbert FLUIT, Seaman

The master of the vessel returned in the darkness to the scene of an attack on a convoy. Men were dimly seen clinging to rafts. Second Officer Anholm volunteered to take a boat with a crew of two, Seamen Phythian and Fluit, to rescue these men. Seventeen exhausted seamen were picked up, and the heavy boat load was brought back to the ship and the men hauled out.

Later the same night the second officer helped to save other men when boats were sighted. In all, 49 men owe their lives to the master's skilful handling of the ship, and to the brave conduct of the second officer and his boat's crew.

See post no 225 for further information from Hugh

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

O.B.E.
Mr. William SKINNER, Chief Engineer

M.B.E.
Luigi Francesco TOGNERI, M.B., Ch.B., Surgeon

B.E.M.
David WHITE, Able Seaman, and
Donald MOWAT, Electrical Engineer

The ship was badly damaged by a U-boat, a torpedo having struck her abaft the engine-room. The second engineer was trapped under a grating, with water rising fast. Chief Engineer Skinner and Mowat, by the skilful use of crowbars, released the officer.

The vessel took on a dangerous list to port and the master ordered all boats to be lowered, manned and pulled clear. He himself remained on board with the chief engineer and the ship's surgeon, Dr. Togneri. These two officers helped the master to save the ship.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

O.B.E.
Captain Charles Albert BAILEY, Master

GEORGE MEDAL
Mr. Percy Donald JONES, Third Officer

B.E.M.
Edward CANLAN, Able Seaman

The ship was sailing alone when she sighted a submarine on her starboard beam. The enemy opened fire with two heavy guns and a pom-pom, at about 6,000 yards range, but the ship replied and her shells fell close to the submarine. The captain fought a spirited action lasting nearly two hours. Third Officer Jones, who was in charge of the gun's crew, was wounded in the head and chest but continued to fire the gun until it was put out of action by a shell.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

O.B.E.
Captain James Bernard McAuley McCAFFERTY, Master

B.E.M.
Alexander DUFF, carpenter

The ship was attacked by aeroplane. Fire was at once opened and many hits were observed. The ship had been attacked from the air twice before, and the master had the defence very well organized. The enemy dropped bombs, one of which exploded on the after deck, setting the ship on fire and breaking the steering gear. He then flew off. The master stopped the vessel and the wounded were put into a boat, but when the fire had been put out and it was found that the ship was not leaking they were brought on board again. Jury steering gear was rigged and the ship was brought to port.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS
M.B.E. FOR WOMAN ENGINEER

M.B.E.
Miss Victoria Alexandrina DRUMMOND, second engineer
The ship was attacked for 35 minutes by a bomber, when 400 miles from land, but by skilful handling many hits were avoided.

When the alarm was sounded Miss Drummond at once went below and took charge. The first salvo flung her against the levers and nearly stunned her. When everything had been done to increase the ship's speed she ordered the engine-room and stokehold staff out. After one attack the main injection pipe just above her head started a joint and scalding steam rushed out. She nursed this vital pipe through the explosion of each salvo, easing down when the noise of the aircraft told here that the bombs were about to fall, and afterwards increasing steam.

Her conduct was an inspiration to the ship's company, and her devotion to duty prevented more serious damaged to the vessel.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

M.B.E.
Mr James Goodall HORNER, Chief Engineer

The ship struck a mine, and was badly damaged. Two tugs came out to tow the ship in, as there was a strong ebb. Chief Engineer Horner worked hard to save the ship. He kept his engines running until there was so much water in the engine-room that they stopped.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

M.B.E.
Mr Norman NICHOLSON, Third Officer

The ship was torpedoed, and the crew were ordered to the boats. The sea was rough. Third Officer Nicholson was in charge of one of these boats which was heavily laden. She lay to for three days and nights. Mr Nicholson repaired the sea-anchor when it parted on the second evening. It was wholly due to the seamanship, resource, and good judgement of the third officer that the survivors were rescued.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

GEORGE MEDAL
Edward James BUTLER, Gunner

Three times the ship was attacked by a low-flying aircraft. She was hit each time by bombs, and during the second and worst attack Gunner Butler was blow into the air, but he retained his hold on the gun.

In the last attack, though all guns but one were disabled, the gunner brought this to bear, firing until the aeroplane was out of range. He showed great courage and devotion throughout the action.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

GEORGE MEDAL
Mr Andrew Hunter JOHNSON, Chief Engineer

The ship had a cargo of benzine. She was struck by a torpedo on the port side between two tanks, and the spirit shot up to a great height. The chief engineer at once went into the engine-room, and put out the auxiliary fires. His presence of mind, courage, and prompt action saved the benzine from catching alight.

 

From The Times, July 10, 1941:
MERCHANT NAVY HONOURS

GEORGE MEDAL
Mr Neale MITCHELL, Second Engineer

For courage and resource when attacked by an enemy aircraft.

NB See posts 27 & 82