Merchant Navy awards

Ref:- SMITH, George Frederick, Commendation, MAVIS, post 16
The ship in question is:-
MAVIS (General Steam Navigation Company Ltd., London) - Bombed and badly damaged on 20 May 1940, when off No. 4 Green Buoy, Calais Roads, by aircraft; abandoned with the loss of three Crew and one Gunner off No. 1 Buoy
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
26 July 1940 Gazette Issue 34908, Supplement 4656, published 26 July 1940
Alfred Stanley Dawson - Commendation – when Chief Engineer
Sidney James Gill (deceased) - Commendation – when 2nd Mate
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69
Lord John Thomas Lazenby (deceased) - Commendation – when Gunner - (********) show P/SSX.31552 – HMS President III - Merchant Navy: Gunner (Seedies)
Died 21 May 1940 – Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 39, Column 1
George Frederick Smith - Commendation – when Donkeyman
William Frederick George Strawbridge (deceased) - Commendation – when Able Seaman
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69
Captain Robert Campbell Watson – OBE(CD) – when Master
Henry George Waugh - Commendation – when Chief Officer
John Richard Woodhouse (deceased)- Commendation – when Able Seaman
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69

Note:-
Alfred Stanley Dawson was later awarded a DSC when Chief Engineer of Rescue Ship ZAMALEK – Convoy PQ.17 in July 1942; on 04 July 1942 rescued 47 survivors from CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT (American) and 11 from WILLIAM HOOPER (American); this happened before the convoy was ordered to scatter on the personal authority of the 1st Sea Lord in London and the massacre of many of the surviving ships in the convoy; on 05 July 1942 she rescued 97 Crew and rescued survivors from ZAAFARAN
25 September 1942 Gazette Issue 35723, Supplement 4225, published 29 September 1942
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- SMITH, James Tait, MBE, MARINA, posts 79, 122
The ship in question is:-
MARINA - Torpedoed and sunk on 17 September 1940, when in Convoy OB.213, in The North Atlantic, when 253 miles WSW of Rockall, in position 56 46N 021 15W, by U-48
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
31 January 1941 Gazette Issue 35064, Supplement 688, published 04 February 1941
Captain Richard Townshend Payne - George Medal – when Master
09 May 1941 Gazette Issue 35159, Supplement 2729, published 13 May 1941
John Joseph MacNeil - BEM (CD) – when Able Seaman
James Tait Smith - MBE (CD) – when First Mate
Ungazetted
Captain Richard Townshend Payne - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Master
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- SMITH, John Alexander, BEM, BALTEAKO, post 24
The ship in question is:-
BALTEAKO (Anglo-Latvian Shipping Company Ltd., London) – damaged by bombing on 20 May 1940 at Narvik
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
23 August 1940 Gazette Issue 34930, Supplement 5199, published 23 August 1940
Captain Francis Stanley Jackson Butcher - OBE (CD) – when Master
Robert George Towns - Commendation – when Chief Engineer
23 August 1940 Gazette Issue 34930, Supplement 5200, published 23 August 1940
John Alexander Smith - BEM (CD) – when Assistant Steward

Further awards for this ship were:-
02 June 1944 Gazette Issue 36547, Supplement 2670, published 10 June 1944
Robert George Towns - OBE (CD) – 1944 Birthday Honours - when Chief Engineer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- SMITH, William Ernest, MBE, DESTRO, posts 324, 406
The ship in question is:-
DESTRO (Ellerman’s Wilson Line Ltd.) - Bombed and damaged on 27 March 1942 at Tobruk by aircraft; arrived at Alexandria on 29 March 1942
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
20 November 1942 Gazette Issue 35796, Supplement 5106, published 24 November 1942
George Henry Anson - BEM (CD) – when Chief Steward
William Wallace Cummings - Commendation – when Third Engineer Officer
Captain Stanley Johnson - Commendation – when Master
Ernest Keady - MBE (CD) – when Second Engineer Officer
David Beatty Lyall - BEM (CD) – when Ship’s Cook
William Ernest Smith - MBE (CD) – when Chief Officer

Other awards for this ship:-
DESTRO (Ellerman’s Wilson Line) – On 13 April 1941 towed the heavily damaged CITY OF KARACHI out of Volo, Greece; 14 April 1941 with the aid of a Greek Destroyer beached CITY OF KARACHI in a bay SW of Volo; 15 April 1941 after further bombing CITY OF KARACHI became a total loss
03 October 1941 Gazette Issue 35299, Supplement 5783, published 07 October 1941
Captain Stanley Johnson - OBE (CD) – when Master
03 October 1941 Gazette Issue 35299, Supplement 5784, published 07 October 1941
Hugh Owens - Commendation - when Chief Engineer
DESTRO (Ellerman’s Wilson Line Ltd.) – whilst trying to save the schooner ZUODOCOS PIGI was damaged in air attack on 29 March 1942 at Tobruk in position 16 31N 039 15E
13 March 1942 Gazette Issue 35488, Supplement 1207, published 17 March 1942
James William Belton - MBE (CD) – when Chief Officer
Hugh Owens - OBE (CD) – when Chief Engineer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- STEPHEN, Joseph Ross, MBE, SAN ARCADIO, posts 64 & 113
The ship in question is:- STEPHEN, Joseph Ross, MBE, LlWM, SAN ARCADIO, posts 64, 113
SAN ARCADIO - Torpedoed and sunk on 31 January 1942 in the North Atlantic, North of Bermuda, in position 38 10N 063 50W, by U-107
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
05 June 1942 Gazette Issue 35588, Supplement 2535, published 09 June 1942
John Campbell - BEM (CD) - when Able Seaman
Bernard Golightly - BEM (CD) – when Storekeeper
Joseph Ross Stephen - MBE (CD) – when Third Officer
Ungazetted
Joseph Ross Stephen - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Third Officer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- STEPHEN, Joseph Ross, MBE, LlWM, SAN ARCADIO, posts 64, 113
The ship in question is:-
SAN ARCADIO - Torpedoed and sunk on 31 January 1942 in the North Atlantic, North of Bermuda, in position 38 10N 063 50W, by U-107
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
05 June 1942 Gazette Issue 35588, Supplement 2535, published 09 June 1942
John Campbell - BEM (CD) - when Able Seaman
Bernard Golightly - BEM (CD) – when Storekeeper
Joseph Ross Stephen - MBE (CD) – when Third Officer
Ungazetted
Joseph Ross Stephen - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Third Officer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- STRANG, James Wylie, MBE, BULYSSES, posts 45, 143
The ship in question is:-
BULYSSES - Torpedoed and sunk on 10 September 1941, when in Convoy SC.42, in The North Atlantic, south of Cape Farewell, in position 62 40N 038 50W, by U-82
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
30 January 1942 Gazette Issue 35441, Supplement 542, published 03 February 1942
William North - MBE (CD) – when Second Engineer
James Wylie Strang - MBE (CD) – when Chief Engineer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- STRAWBRIDGE, William Frederick George, Commendation, MAVIS, post 16
The ship in question is:-
MAVIS (General Steam Navigation Company Ltd., London) - Bombed and badly damaged on 20 May 1940, when off No. 4 Green Buoy, Calais Roads, by aircraft; abandoned with the loss of three Crew and one Gunner off No. 1 Buoy
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
26 July 1940 Gazette Issue 34908, Supplement 4656, published 26 July 1940
Alfred Stanley Dawson - Commendation – when Chief Engineer
Sidney James Gill (deceased) - Commendation – when 2nd Mate
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69
Lord John Thomas Lazenby (deceased) - Commendation – when Gunner - (********) show P/SSX.31552 – HMS President III - Merchant Navy: Gunner (Seedies)
Died 21 May 1940 – Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 39, Column 1
George Frederick Smith - Commendation – when Donkeyman
William Frederick George Strawbridge (deceased) - Commendation – when Able Seaman
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69
Captain Robert Campbell Watson – OBE(CD) – when Master
Henry George Waugh - Commendation – when Chief Officer
John Richard Woodhouse (deceased)- Commendation – when Able Seaman
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69

Note:-
Alfred Stanley Dawson was later awarded a DSC when Chief Engineer of Rescue Ship ZAMALEK – Convoy PQ.17 in July 1942; on 04 July 1942 rescued 47 survivors from CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT (American) and 11 from WILLIAM HOOPER (American); this happened before the convoy was ordered to scatter on the personal authority of the 1st Sea Lord in London and the massacre of many of the surviving ships in the convoy; on 05 July 1942 she rescued 97 Crew and rescued survivors from ZAAFARAN
25 September 1942 Gazette Issue 35723, Supplement 4225, published 29 September 1942
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- TAYLOR, George, GM, STARSTONE, posts 70 & 120
The ship in question is:-
STARSTONE - Bombed and damaged on 31 October 1940 when a straggler from Convoy OB.235 in The North Atlantic, in position 54 12N 015 32W, by aircraft; she was assisted to Greenock, where she arrived on 02 November 1940
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
09 May 1941 Gazette Issue 35159, Supplement 2728, published 13 May 1941
Peter Gibb Johnstone - MBE (CD) – when Fourth Engineer
George Taylor - George Medal – when Quartermaster
Captain William Royal Thomas - OBE (CD) – when Master
09 May 1941 Gazette Issue 35159, Supplement 2729, published 13 May 1941
Herbert Lloyd Poulson - Commendation – when Chief Officer
Cecil Stewart - Commendation – when Able Seaman
19 September 1941 Gazette Issue 35280, Supplement 5498, published 23 September 1941
Hans Christian Olsen (deceased) - Commendation – when Steward
Died 31 October 1940 – Greenock Cemetery, Grave Reference Sec. CCC Grave 981
Ungazetted – shown in TNA 335/11
Heralf Hansen - Honorary Commendation – when Third Officer
Wasaburo Wasa (Japanese) - Honorary Commendation – for brave conduct – when Carpenter
Ungazetted
Captain William Royal Thomas - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Master

Other awards for this ship:-
28 May 1943 Gazette Issue 36035, Supplement 2497, published 04 June 1943
Herbert Lloyd Poulson - MBE (CD) – 1943 Birthday Honours – when Chief Officer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- THOMAS, Richard, OBE, WORTHTOWN, post 18
The ship in question is:-
WORTHTOWN (Comben, Longstaff & Company Ltd., London) – destroyed an enemy aircraft – bombed and sunk on 27 May 1940 at Dunkirk by aircraft; salved and taken as a prize by the Germans
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
26 July 1940 Gazette Issue 34908, Supplement 4656, published 26 July 1940
William Hudson Jensen - BEM (CD) – when Gunlayer - Merchant Navy: Gunlayer (Seedies)
Captain Richard Thomas – OBE (CD) – when Master
Francis Victor Yates - BEM (CD) – when Gunner - Merchant Navy: Gunner (Seedies)

Note:-
William Hudson Jensen was later awarded a Commendation when Deck Hand of MIRUPANU – probable destruction of an enemy aircraft
04 June 1943 Gazette Issue 36043, Supplement 2615, published 08 June 1943

Note:-
Captain Richard Thomas was later awarded a Commendation when Master of CUSHENDUN – unknown event (Seedies) - On 31 January 1942 when on passage to Milford Haven in Convoy PW.103 in The English Channel drove of an He 115 using PAC rockets then apparently shooting down a Focke-Wulf 200 Kondor
19 June 1942 Gazette Issue 35602, Supplement 2744, published 23 June 1942
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- THOMAS, William Percival, OBE, LlWM, PINNA, posts 309, 409
The ship in question is:-
PINNA (Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co.) – Bombed and damaged on 03 February 1942 heading north towards The Rhio Straits, in position 00 52S 104 19E, by Japanese bombers and then sunk on 04 February 1942 by Japanese bombers
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
25 September 1942 Gazette Issue 35722, Supplement 4223, published 29 September 1942
Ralph Wilson Armstrong - BEM (CD) – when Apprentice
Noel Francis Green - MBE (CD) – when Second Engineer Officer
Thomas Simkins - MBE (CD) – when Radio Officer
Captain William Percival Thomas - OBE (CD) – when Master
25 September 1942 Gazette Issue 35722, Supplement 4224, published 29 September 1942
Arthur Townsend Greene - Commendation – when Third Engineer Officer
Ronald Watt - Commendation – when Chief Officer
Ungazetted
Ralph Wilson Armstrong - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Apprentice
Thomas Simkins - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Radio Officer
Captain William Percival Thomas - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Master
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- THOMAS, William Royal, OBE, STARSTONE, posts 70 & 120
The ship in question is:-
STARSTONE - Bombed and damaged on 31 October 1940 when a straggler from Convoy OB.235 in The North Atlantic, in position 54 12N 015 32W, by aircraft; she was assisted to Greenock, where she arrived on 02 November 1940
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
09 May 1941 Gazette Issue 35159, Supplement 2728, published 13 May 1941
Peter Gibb Johnstone - MBE (CD) – when Fourth Engineer
George Taylor - George Medal – when Quartermaster
Captain William Royal Thomas - OBE (CD) – when Master
09 May 1941 Gazette Issue 35159, Supplement 2729, published 13 May 1941
Herbert Lloyd Poulson - Commendation – when Chief Officer
Cecil Stewart - Commendation – when Able Seaman
19 September 1941 Gazette Issue 35280, Supplement 5498, published 23 September 1941
Hans Christian Olsen (deceased) - Commendation – when Steward
Died 31 October 1940 – Greenock Cemetery, Grave Reference Sec. CCC Grave 981
Ungazetted – shown in TNA 335/11
Heralf Hansen - Honorary Commendation – when Third Officer
Wasaburo Wasa (Japanese) - Honorary Commendation – for brave conduct – when Carpenter
Ungazetted
Captain William Royal Thomas - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Master

Other awards for this ship:-
28 May 1943 Gazette Issue 36035, Supplement 2497, published 04 June 1943
Herbert Lloyd Poulson - MBE (CD) – 1943 Birthday Honours – when Chief Officer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- TODD, Ultan Tobin, BEM, MARSLEW, posts 26, 28
The ship in question is:-
MARSLEW - Torpedoed and sunk on 23 February 1941, having dispersed from Convoy OB.288, in The North Atlantic, some 265 miles WNW of Rockall, in position 59 18N 021 30W, by U-95
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
06 June 1941 Gazette Issue 35185, Supplement 3305, published 10 June 1941
Frederick Henry Feasey - Commendation – when Chief Officer
Ultan Tobin Todd - BEM (CD) – when Apprentice
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- TOWNS, Robert George, Commendation, BALTEAKO, post 24
The ship in question is:-
BALTEAKO (Anglo-Latvian Shipping Company Ltd., London) – damaged by bombing on 20 May 1940 at Narvik
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
23 August 1940 Gazette Issue 34930, Supplement 5199, published 23 August 1940
Captain Francis Stanley Jackson Butcher - OBE (CD) – when Master
Robert George Towns - Commendation – when Chief Engineer
23 August 1940 Gazette Issue 34930, Supplement 5200, published 23 August 1940
John Alexander Smith - BEM (CD) – when Assistant Steward

Further awards for this ship were:-
02 June 1944 Gazette Issue 36547, Supplement 2670, published 10 June 1944
Robert George Towns - OBE (CD) – 1944 Birthday Honours - when Chief Engineer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- TOY, Albert John, Polish Cross, DELIUS, post 161
The ship in question is:-
DELIUS – withdrawal of Polish Troops from France in June 1940
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
21 October 1941 Gazette Issue 35319, Supplement 6108, published 21 October 1941
Albert John Toy - Polish Cross of Valour (Krzyz Walecnych)
Captain William Warriner Watson - Polish Cross of Valour (Krzyz Walecnych) – when Master

Other Awards for this ship:-
DELIUS (Lamport and Holt Lines Ltd., Liverpool) – damaged by bombing on 27 April 1940 and again on 29 April 1940 when at Aandalsnes in Romsdalsfjord, Norway whilst in Convoy TM.1
04 October 1940 Gazette Issue 34963, Supplement 5890, published 08 October 1940
FB Buckingham – Seedies say FF Buckingham - Commendation – when Signalman
Joseph William Doyle - Commendation - when Gunlayer - Merchant Navy: Gunlayer (Seedies)
William Blyth Rutherford - MBE (CD) – when Chief Engineer
Captain William Warriner Watson - OBE (CD) - when Master
George Robert Siggins H. Wearing - Commendation – when Telegraphist
DELIUS – damaged on 21 November 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 46 46N 018 30W by glider bomb
14 April 1944 Gazette Issue 36473, Supplement 1773 published 18 April 1944
Gilbert Filshie - OBE (CD) – when Chief Engineer Officer
Gordon Marshall - OBE (CD) – when Chief Officer
Frederick John Page - BEM (CD) – when Boatswain
Reginald Arthur Philpott - BEM (CD) – when Carpenter
14 April 1944 Gazette Issue 36473, Supplement 1774 published 18 April 1944
Lionel Brazill - Commendation – when Senior Radio Officer
John Johnstone - Commendation – when Junior Engineer Officer -
Kenneth Basil Keith Nye - Commendation – when Second Radio Officer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- TURNER, Gerard Llewellyn, GM, LlWM, TEWKESBURY, posts 125, 130
The ship in question is:-
TEWKESBURY - Enemy air attack on 01 March 1941 in The North Sea when in Convoy EN.79-1
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
03 October 1941 Gazette Issue 35299, Supplement 5783, published 07 October 1941
Captain Theodore Pryse - OBE (CD) - when Master
03 October 1941 Gazette Issue 35299, Supplement 5784, published 07 October 1941
Bernard Peter de Neumann - George Medal – when Second Officer
Gerard Llewellyn Turner - George Medal – when Second Engineer
Ungazetted
Bernard Peter de Neumann - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Second Officer
Gerard Llewellyn Turner - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Second Engineer

Other awards for this ship:-
TEWKESBURY - Torpedoed and sunk on 21 May 1941 in The North Atlantic, some 540 miles south of The Cape Verde Islands, in position 05 49N 024 09W, by U-69
10 April 1942 Gazette Issue 35521, Supplement 1635, published 14 April 1942
David Gardiner Howlett - MBE (CD) – when Chief Officer
10 April 1942 Gazette Issue 35521, Supplement 1636, published 14 April 1942
Jose Ramirez – should read Jose Ramrez (since deceased) - Commendation – when Boatswain
Died 15 September 1941 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 73
NEWBURY
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- VENABLES, Henry Cyril, BEM, CORMEAD, posts 47, 142
The ship in question is:-
CORMEAD – drove off and destroyed enemy aircraft
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
30 January 1942 Gazette Issue 35441, Supplement 542, published 03 February 1942
Joseph Edward Bramwell - BEM (CD) – when Able Seaman
Frederick John Muttitt - MBE (CD) – when Chief Officer
Henry Cyril Venables - BEM (CD) – when Gunner - Merchant Navy: Gunner (Seedies)
30 January 1942 Gazette Issue 35441, Supplement 543, published 03 February 1942
Captain Arthur Reginald Emmott - Commendation – when Master

Other awards for this ship:-
06 June 1941 Gazette Issue 35184, Supplement 3288, published 12 June 1941
Captain Arthur Reginald Emmott - OBE (CD) – 1941 Birthday Honours – when Master

Note:-
Captain Frederick John Muttitt was later awarded a Commendation when Master of CORMULL – mined and damaged on 15 May 1943 in the North Sea, in position 52 46N 001 57E; towed to Great Yarmouth – note, not shown in Convoyweb
07 July 1944 Gazette Issue 36601, Supplement 3232 published 11 July 1944
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- WALKER, William, MBE, RUSHPOOL, posts 78, 103
The ship in question is:-
RUSHPOOL - Torpedoed and sunk on 30 January 1941, when a straggler in Convoy SC.19, in The North Atlantic, SE of Rockall, in position 56 00N 015 42W, by U-94
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
09 May 1941 Gazette Issue 35159, Supplement 2729, published 13 May 1941
William Walker - MBE (CD) – when Third Engineer
Ungazetted
William Walker - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Third Engineer
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- WATSON, John Edwin, OBE, LlWM, EUMAEUS, posts 71, 90
The ship in question is:-
EUMAEUS - Shelled, torpedoed and sunk on 14 January 1941 in The Equatorial Atlantic, in position 08 55N 015 03W, by the Italian Submarine, COMANDANTE CAPPELLINI
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
09 May 1941 Gazette Issue 35159, Supplement 2728, published 13 May 1941
Stanley Stuart Howie - MBE (CD) – when Second Mate
Captain John Edwin Watson - OBE (CD) – when Master
Ungazetted
Captain John Edwin Watson - Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea – when Master
Cheers
Mike

 

Ref:- WATSON, Robert Campbell, OBE, MAVIS, post 16
The ship in question is:-
MAVIS (General Steam Navigation Company Ltd., London) - Bombed and badly damaged on 20 May 1940, when off No. 4 Green Buoy, Calais Roads, by aircraft; abandoned with the loss of three Crew and one Gunner off No. 1 Buoy
Awards for this incident are as follows:-
26 July 1940 Gazette Issue 34908, Supplement 4656, published 26 July 1940
Alfred Stanley Dawson - Commendation – when Chief Engineer
Sidney James Gill (deceased) - Commendation – when 2nd Mate
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69
Lord John Thomas Lazenby (deceased) - Commendation – when Gunner - (********) show P/SSX.31552 – HMS President III - Merchant Navy: Gunner (Seedies)
Died 21 May 1940 – Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 39, Column 1
George Frederick Smith - Commendation – when Donkeyman
William Frederick George Strawbridge (deceased) - Commendation – when Able Seaman
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69
Captain Robert Campbell Watson – OBE(CD) – when Master
Henry George Waugh - Commendation – when Chief Officer
John Richard Woodhouse (deceased)- Commendation – when Able Seaman
Died 20 May 1940 – Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 69

Note:-
Alfred Stanley Dawson was later awarded a DSC when Chief Engineer of Rescue Ship ZAMALEK – Convoy PQ.17 in July 1942; on 04 July 1942 rescued 47 survivors from CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT (American) and 11 from WILLIAM HOOPER (American); this happened before the convoy was ordered to scatter on the personal authority of the 1st Sea Lord in London and the massacre of many of the surviving ships in the convoy; on 05 July 1942 she rescued 97 Crew and rescued survivors from ZAAFARAN
25 September 1942 Gazette Issue 35723, Supplement 4225, published 29 September 1942
Cheers
Mike