VICTORIA CROSSES WON AT ST. NAZAIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 119, 22 May 1942, Page 5

VICTORIA CROSSES WON AT ST. NAZAIRE

THREE AWARDS

Heroic Exploits In Epic Attack British Official Wireless Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, May 21. The award of three Victoria Crosses is announced for daring and valour in the recent combined operations at Sa. Nazaire. The recipients are:—■ Lieutenant-Commander Beattie Commander Ryder and Able-Seaman Savage. Lieutenant-Commander Beattie was in command of H.M.S. Campbeltown, which rammed the lock gate and blew it up. The official citation says: "Under intense fire directed at the bridge from point-blank range, and in the face of the blinding glare of many searchlights, LieutenantCommander Beattie steamed her into the lock gates, and beached and scuttled her in the correct position. The Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant-Commander Beattie in recognition not only of his own valour but also of that of the officers and men of the very gallant ship's company, many of whom have not returned. Lieutenant-Commander Beattie is now a prisoner of war."

Commander Ryder was the commander of a small force of unprotected ships in the attack and led the Campbeltown in under intense fire.. Though the main object of the expedition had been accomplished in the beaching of the Campbeltown, he remained on the spot conducting operations, evacuating men from the Campbeltown and dealing with strong points, while exposed to heavy fire, for an hour and 16 minutes. He did not withdraw until it was certain that his ship would be of no use in rescuing any of the commando troops who were still ashore. That his motor gunboat, now full of dead and wounded, should have survived is almost a miracle.

Able-Searnan Savage is awarded the V.C. for great gallantry, skill and devotion as the gunlayer of a pompom in a gunboat completely exposed and under heavy fire. He engaged positions ashore with cool, steady and accurate fire, and on the way out of the harbour he kept up the same vigorous and accurate fire against the attacking ships until he was killed at his gun. This V.C. is awarded in recognition not only of Able-Seaman Savage's gallantry but also of the valour shown by many others unnamed in motor launches, gunboats and motor torpedo boats, who carried out their duty in entirely exposed positions against the enemy at very close range.

Fourteen awards of the D.S.C. and other awards are also made to men who participated in the raid.