Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second World War Bomb & Mine Disposal B.E.M. awarded to Leading Stoker J. Heap, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Ldg. Sto. Jack Heap, P/KX. 88209 R.N.), edge bruising, otherwise very fine £500-600

B.E.M. London Gazette 22 June 1945:

‘For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty in disposing of damaged and crushed ammunition in the magazine of one of H.M. Ships after she had been torpedoed.’

The original recommendation further states:

‘For outstanding courage and devotion to duty in the handling of damaged and crushed ammunition.’

Jack Heap was among a small Bomb and Mine Disposal Team drawn from Spartiate, the Glasgow naval base, to clear the damaged magazines of the escort carrier H.M.S. Thane, which ship had been towed to Greenock after falling victim to a gnat-torpedo delivered by the U-1172 on 15 January 1945. The task, under the direction of Lieutenant-Commander J. K. Woodrow, G.M., R.N.V.R., who was awarded a Bar to his G.M., took 10 days.

Once bodies had been recovered from behind watertight hatches, and all of the carrier’s 68 aircraft been lifted onto lighters, Woodrow and his men commenced their perilous work, much of the ordnance being covered in oil fuel and a number of shells with crushed noses and fuses - or with completely exposed detonators. And by the end of their hair-raising task, Heap and his comrades had cleared no less than 600 5-inch shells and a similar number of charges from the 5-inch magazine and powder room, in addition to in excess of 2000 cases of 40mm. and 130 cases of 20mm. ammunition. The damaged ordnance was loaded into a Clyde “puffer” which made several trips to an area of deep water between Ardrossan and Brodick, where it was dumped overboard.

In addition to Woodrow’s Bar to his G.M., and an M.B.E. to another “Wavy Navy” bomb disposal officer, four ratings were awarded the B.E.M. and another three a commendation.