It's been six years since my father died and I've only recently really understood what he did in WW2. I knew that he served in the Royal Navy, minesweeping from bases in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, and Lowestoft, Suffolk (the most easterly point in Britain), but my mother uncovered his campaign medals a couple of months ago and amongst them was a small silver badge with a very special history. It's the badge awarded to Royal Naval Patrol servicemen for six months operational service at sea minesweeping. A sleeve badge, to be worn 4" (10cm) above the cuff.
Here's the history, with a quote from Winston Churchill at the beginning of WW2: "I am told that the Minesweepers men have no badge. If this is so it must be remedied at once. I am asking for designs within one week, after which production must begin with greatest speed, and distribution as the deliveries come to hand." Never before had one section of the Royal Navy been similarly honoured.
... and a message from Winston Churchill to the officers and men of the minesweeping flotillas, towards the end of WW2: "Now that Nazi Germany has been defeated I wish to send you all on behalf of His Majesty's Government a message of thanks and gratitude. The work you do is hard and dangerous. You rarely get and never seek publicity; your only concern is to do your job, and you have done it nobly. You have sailed in many seas and all weathers.... This work could not be done without loss, and we mourn all who have died and over 250 ships lost on duty. No work has been more vital than yours; no work has been better done. The ports were kept open and Britain breathed. The Nation is once again proud of you."
I'm proud of you too, Dad. Love you.
Arthur Anthony Vale 22.07.22 to 24.04.13 RIP
The picture at the top shows my father's military campaign medals, from left to right:-
The War Medal 1939-1945 (awarded for 28 days of service in the second world war)
The Royal Naval Patrol Service Silver Badge (awarded for 180 days of operational service at sea Minesweeping)
The Atlantic Star (awarded for 180 days of operational service in the Battle of the Atlantic)
The 1939-1945 Star (awarded for 180 days of operational service in the second world war)
To Read about the War Medal 1939-1945, click on the link below:-
To read about The Royal Naval Patrol Service Silver Badge, click on the links below:-
To read about The Atlantic Star, click on the link below:-
To read about The 1939-1945 Star, click on the link below:-
