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Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts

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Allegiance
  
United Kingdom

Role
  
Armed force officer

Name
  
Peter Watkinson

Awards
  
Victoria Cross

Rank
  
Lieutenant Commander

Unit
  
HMS Thrasher (N37)

Years of service
  
1936-1962

Service/branch
  
Royal Navy


Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts

Battles/wars
  
World War II Korean War

Died
  
December 8, 1979, Newton Ferrers, United Kingdom

Battles and wars
  
World War II, Korean War

Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts VC, DSC (28 July 1917 – 8 December 1979) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts VC Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection

Details

Roberts was 24 years old, and a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 16 February 1942 north of Crete, in the Mediterranean, HM Submarine Thrasher, after attacking and sinking a supply ship, was itself attacked.Thrasher was subjected to a three-hour depth charge attack and aerial bombing.

Later, after surfacing, two unexploded bombs were discovered in the gun-casing. Lieutenant Roberts and a petty officer (Thomas William Gould) removed the first one without too much difficulty, but the second bomb had penetrated the side plating of the gun emplacement, and then the deck casing above the pressure hull. Roberts and Gould entered the confined space (which was no more than 2 ft high in places), and lying flat, wormed past deck supports, battery ventilators, and drop bollards. The petty officer then lay on his back with the 100 lb bomb in his arms while the lieutenant dragged him along by the shoulders. Meanwhile, Thrasher was surfaced, stationary, and close inshore to enemy waters. If the submarine was forced to crash dive, both men would drown. It was 40 minutes before they got the bomb clear, wrapped it in sacking, and dropped it over the side.

His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

References

Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts Wikipedia