Merchant Navy awards

As we know Batory and Sobiesky performed such sterling service throughout the war
Regards,
Roy

Hi Roy,

Allied MN contributions also often overlooked. Both these Polish ships won their fair share of awards for actions during WWII. Captain Knoetgen of SOBIESKI being awarded a DSC and Bar. Others in his crew were also decorated.
Regards
Hugh

 

Hi Hugh,


Following your lead I copied the following from the LG 21 October 1941, Thank you for your help:

The KING has been pleased to grant unrestricted permission for the wearing (or for the acceptance by the next-of-kin) of the Cross of Valour (Krzyz Walecznych) which has been conferred by the President of the Polish Republic upon the under-mentioned Officers and Men of the Merchant Navy in recognition of their gallant conduct during the withdrawal of Polish troops from France in June, 1940: —The Late Captain Edgar Wallace Moulton, Master, S.S. Arandora Star. The Late Joseph Brindley, Bosun's Mate, S.S. Arandora Star. Captain John Williami Cromarty, Master, S.S. Glendinning. Captain Duncan Darroch, Master, M.V. Royal Scotsman. Captain Lachlan Dewar, Master, S.S. Baron Kinnaird. Captain Tom Valentine Frank, Master, S.S. Alderpool. Captain Alfred Hinchcliff, Master, S.S. Kelso. Captain John Murray Legg, Master, M.V. Ettrick. Captain Richard William Stanley Marshall, Master, S.S. Glenlea. Captain Duncan McCall, Master, S.S. Blair Nevis. Captain David Frederick Owens, Master, M.V. Ulster Monarch. Captain Henry Edward Geves Scott-Smith, Master, S.S. Clan Ferguson. Captain William Warriner Watson, Master, S.S. Delius. Mr. George Smith Anderton, Chief Officer, S.S. Kelso. Mr. Arthur William Craib, Chief Officer, S.S. Baron Kinnaird. Mr. Alexander Miller, Chief Officer, S.S. Glenlea. Mr. William Ritchie Pitkeathly, Second Officer, M.V. Royal Scotsman. Mr. Wroth Thomas Coull Lethbridge, Troop Officer, M.V. Ettrick. Mr. Hall Wilson, Chief Steward, S.S. Blair Nevis. Mr. Albert John Toy, Chief Steward, S.S. Delius. Mr. John Whyte, Steward, S.S. Glendinning.
Mr. Joseph Lois, Able Seaman, S.S. Alderpool.

 

Hello Roy,
Thanks for that. I note the award for the master and chief officer of ss KELSO which I did not have.
Regards
Hugh

 

Post no. 60 refers.
MERCHANT NAVY AWARDS
BRAVERY AND SKILFUL SEAMANSHIP

M.B.E.
Captain D. Pattison, Master
Second Engineer J. Gronhaug

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
C. McCarthy, able seaman

The ship was mined and damage was such that the crew were ordered to the boats. The master, with his boat's crew, went aboard another vessel, but as his ship did not sink he returned with a small party. The second engineer showed great skill. Working on top of a submerged hatch, with many of the covers missing, and helped by McCarthy, he connected a steam line to the windlass. Seas broke over the helpless ship, and although at times she could not be handled the master never allowed his party to despair. The ship was towed to safety stern first by two tugs, the master doing his own pilotage.

Collier GEORGE BALFOUR official number 165460 built in 1937 for London Power Co.
Mined and damaged off the East Coast on 17th October 1940. The ship was later torpedoed and damaged by an E-boat off the East Coast on the 14th October 1942. She survived the war.

Regards
Hugh

 

Post no.61 refers.
MERCHANT NAVY AWARDS
BRAVERY AND SKILFUL SEAMANSHIP

M.B.E.
Captain O.H. Roberts, Master

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
D. Harris, mate
H.A. Jones, gunner

The ship was attacked by a German seaplane. The master manned the Lewis gun on the bridge, the mate took the after Hotchkiss gun, and the gunner a second Hotchkiss. The master ordered everyone to hold his fire until the enemy was close. The German made two runs, both very low, and such a steady, well-directed stream of lead was poured into him that he was destroyed.


British Coaster SAINT EUNAN official number 115054 built in 1937 for Thos Helton & Co. Not mentioned above but Able Seaman William Jones received a Commendation.The ship survived the war.
Regards
Hugh

 

Post no.62 refers.
MERCHANT NAVY AWARDS
COURAGE IN FACE OF ENEMY ATTACKS

O.B.E.
Captain Frank Deighton, master
Gilbert Sisterson, chief engineer

M.B.E.
John Gundry Midlen, chief officer

The ship made two passages through unfriendly waters. On the outward voyage she was attacked by torpedo bombers, and her guns provided part of the highly effective barrage which drove off the assault. On the return the vessel was twice attacked, but was saved by the courage and seamanship of Captain Deighton. The chief officer was responsible for the organization of the defensive armament which was used with good effect. The chief engineer, in difficult conditions, maintained the speed of the ship.

Cargo ship CITY OF PRETORIA official number 165620 built in 1937 for the Ellerman Line.

Sadly, Captain Deighton, Chief Officer Midlen and Chief Engineer Sisterton were later to lose their lives when, on 3rd March 1943, the ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-172 (Carl Emmermann). She was carrying ammunition and blew up killing all aboard (145).
Regards
Hugh

 

Post no. 63 refers.
MERCHANT NAVY AWARDS
COURAGE IN FACE OF ENEMY ATTACKS

O.B.E.
Captain William Gordon Higgs, Master
David Charles Jack, chief engineer

M.B.E.
Henry George Bacon Pinkney, chief officer

The ship was frequently attacked by enemy aircraft. The master showed courage and good seamanship and it was due to his handling of the vessel that she was brought safely to port. The chief officer's organization of the defences was outstanding and the chief engineer proved equal to all the demands made on his department.

PORT CHALMERS official number 163429 built in 1933 for Port Line.
Henry George Bacon Pinkney later sailed as Captain of PORT CHALMERS in August 1942 during the Operation Pedestal convoy being awarded the DSO for his actions. The ship survived the war.
Regards
Hugh

 

Sadly I don't think that Captain Pinkney did though. A late friend of mine, who was an Apprentice on the Port Chalmers, told of the time that they arrived in Australia on another Port boat with Captain Pinkney. The Master came down to the officers smoke room to say that he had received a letter saying that he had been awarded the DSO and that he would accept on behalf of them all. He went back to his accommodation, where his Tiger found him dead the next morning - he seemed to have collapsed and died as soon as he got back. Yet another indirect casualty of the war.


Roy

 

Thanks for your input, Roy. I was not aware that he never survived the war.
Regards
Hugh

 

Post no.65 refers
MERCHANT SEAMEN HONOURED
GREAT ORDEALS AT SEA
OUTSTANDING COURAGE

O.B.E.
Captain James Kennedy, Master

M.B.E.
Neil Murray Coleman, Third Radio Officer

The ship, sailing alone was torpedoed. As a precautionary measure one of the boats, with 30 members of the crew was immediately lowered and pulled clear of the ship. Meanwhile the master swung his ship stern on to the submarine and opened fire. Only one round had been fired when a second torpedo hit the ship and set her on fire. With the ship burning fiercely the master and the remainder of the crew ran through the flames to the forecastle head and dived overboard.

After swimming for three hours a raft was sighted which the master and others managed to reach. It was badly damaged and had neither water nor provisions. The survivors clung to the raft for about 26 hours before they were picked up by a rescuing ship which had answered the distress signals, sent out when the vessel was first torpedoed.

The third radio officer showed great bravery and devotion to duty. He remained in the wireless room and held a broken wire in position while distress messages were transmitted. He did not leave until forced to do so by the enveloping flames.

The master displayed outstanding courage throughout. He did his best to fight the submarine and tried to safeguard the lives of his crew by getting the majority away in a boat at an early stage.

Tanker BRITISH RESOURCE official number 162547 built in 1931 for the British Tanker Co Ltd.
14/3/1942: Torpedoed and sunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr) in the North Atlantic.

As well as Captain Kennedy and Third Radio Officer Coleman, the following awards were also given.
Clark, Frederick Ronald - Chief Radio Officer - Posthumous Commendation.
Rennels, Samuel John - Second Engineer - Posthumous Commendation.

Radio officer's Clark and Coleman were also awarded the Lloyds War Medal for bravery at sea. Here are their citations:
When the ship was torpedoed while sailing alone one of the boats, with thirty members of the crew, was ordered to be lowered and to stand by. In the meantime the master opened fire on the submarine, but only one round had been fired when a second torpedo struck the ship and set her ablaze. First Radio Officer Clark sacrificed his life by his devotion to duty, remaining on board to transmit distress messages which brought a ship to the rescue of the survivors. He then ran through the flames and dived overboard, but was not seen again. Third Radio Officer Coleman also displayed agreat courage and a high sense of duty. While the distress messages were being sent out he stayed in the wireless room and held a broken wire in position. He would not leave until the flames forced him to do so.
Regards
Hugh

 

Post no.66 refers.
MERCHANT SEAMEN HONOURED
GREAT ORDEALS AT SEA
OUTSTANDING COURAGE

M.B.E
William Massie Duncan, Chief Officer
Kenneth George Eaton, Third Officer
Stanley Powell, Radio Officer

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
George Cuthbert, Fireman
James Francis Kirkwood, Seaman

The ship sailing alone was torpedoed 300 miles from the nearest land and sank within three minutes. The chief officer, seeing a number of the crew attempting to lower a boat, jumped into it with the intention of cutting the falls as, owing to the heavy list, the boat was resting on the ship's side. The ship, however, sank too quickly and took the boat down with her. The chief officer and two members of the crew managed to reach an upturned boat which had floated clear of the ship.

For two and a half days they clung to the bottom of this boat until weather conditions permitted it to be righted. The boat was found to be badly waterlogged and nearly all the equipment, food, and water had been washed away. During the next six days two of the occupants of the boat died, leaving the chief officer alone. Five days later he was picked up. Chief Officer Duncan acted with courage and resource in attempting to release one of the boats when the ship was sinking and he displayed outstanding qualities of fortitude and endurance throughout the whole of his tremendous ordeal.

When the ship sank, nine other members of the crew managed to reach three rafts, which they lashed together. They attempted without success to reach the upturned boat to which the chief officer was clinging. During the first night in the heavy seas one of the three rafts broke adrift and disappeared with three of the crew. The remaining two rafts kept together for about 10 days, when one of the men died. During this period the remaining rafts were capsized several times by heavy seas and eventually one of them began to break up. The men on this raft were transferred to the remaining sound raft, but during the operation another man was lost. Four men now remained on the last raft, on which they drifted for a further five days before being picked up.

Great courage and fortitude were displayed by Third Officer Eaton, Radio Officer Powell, Fireman Cuthbert, and Seaman Kirkwood during the 15 days the were adrift.


Tanker ARLETTA official number 148856 built in 1925 (Sir James German & Co Ltd, Cardiff - ARLON SS Co).
5/8/1942: Torpedoed and sunk in the North Atlantic by U-468 (Kurt Diggins).

The Master, George William Stockton Rogers, 29 crew and 6 gunners were lost. Chief Officer William Massie Duncan, Third Officer Eaton, Radio Officer Powell, Fireman Cuthbert and Seaman Kirkwood being the only survivors rescued after 15 days by US Coast Guard ship USS MENEMSHA and landed at Boston on 25 August.

Regards
Hugh

 

Post no. 67 refers
BRAVERY AT SEA
MERCHANT SEAMEN HONOURED

O.B.E.
Norman Houfton, chief officer

One of H.M. Transports arrived at Berbera with troops and stores which were urgently required by our forces in British Somaliland. Mr. Houfton greatly helped the unloading, which had to be done into lighters, with the least possible delay.


Norman Houfton was chief officer of the passenger/cargo ship TAKLIWA official number 147685 buit in 1924 for British India SN Co Ltd. The ship survived the war.
Regards
Hugh

 

Post no. 74 refers.
BRAVERY AT SEA
MERCHANT SEAMEN HONOURED

M.B.E.
Thomas Cunningham Aitchison, third officer.

The ship was attacked by enemy aircraft and sunk. The third officer, the last to leave, saved the life of a shipmate who unable to swim, was unwilling to leave.

Passenger liner APAPA (Capt. Vaughan Davies) official number 149611 built in 1927 for Elder Dempster Lines.
Bombed by enemy aircraft and sunk in the North Atlantic on 15 November 1940.

London Gazette 13 May 1941

Regards
Hugh