Admiralty Recognises High Courage

Northern Advocate, 24 February 1940, Page 8

Admiralty Recognises High Courage

LONDON. February 22. The names of officers and men of the Exeter and Ajax who have been decorated make a lengthy list. The Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to Midshipman A. Cameron, of the Exeter, for having, with AbleSeaman W. G. Gwilliam, smothered the flames, and thrown unexploded but heated shells over the side when an 11-inch German shell exploded in an „ ammunition locker. Able-Seaman Gwilliam received the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, which is awarded also to W. A. Russell, Royal Marines, and First Class Stoker P. C’Brien, also of the Exeter. Officers of the Ajax to receive the Distinguished Service Cross .are Lieu-tenant-Commander D. P. Dreyer, gunnery officer, who controlled the ship’s fire with great skill; Lieutenant K. N. Todd, who carried out his navigation duties; Lieutenant E. D. G. Lewin, aviation officer, who was catapulted into the air after the commencement of the action when the airworthiness of his aircraft was doubtful, and he made a difficult landing after the battle; Shipwright F. H. T. Panter, who helped to put out a fire; WarrantEngineer A. J. Monk and Gunner R. C. Biggs. Stood Over Gun Muzzle. Other officers of the Exeter to receive the Distinguished Service Cross are Commander C. A. Smith and Commander R. B. Jennings—the latter, when only one turret in the main armament was left in action tried to spot from the other control position, although. standing over the muzzles of the guns; Lieutenant A. E. Toase, Royal Marines; Surgeon-Lieutenant R. W. G. Lancashire, who, during the action, and throughout the passage to the Falkland Islands, tended the wounded without sleep; Midshipman R. W. Don and Warrant Shipwright C. E. Rendle. The following ratings of the Ajax arc awarded the Distinguished Service Medal; Petty-Officer A. E. Fuller. Chief Mechanician W. G. Darling. Stoker B. Wood, First Class Stoker F. E. Monk. Shipwright D. Graham. Artificer J. W. Jennings, Sergeant R. G. Cook, Marine T. N. Buckley, PettyOfficer C. H. C. Gorton, and PettyOfficer J. W. Hill. Deeds of Daring. Ratings from the Exeter to receive the Distinguished Service Medal are: Engineroom Artificer J. McGarry, who, with dead and dying around him and himself stunned against the bulkhead. recovered and flooded the petrol compartment, in spite of dense fumes, maintained charge, organised stretcher parties and reported to his officer; Engineroom Artificer F. Bond, who flooded .a magazine which had been struck by a shell; Sergeant A. B. Wille. who applied a tourniquet to the stump of a marine’s arm. put out a fire in a gunhouse, and threw cordite over the side.