Miniature Medals

An exceptional Second War ‘Commando’ B.E.M. awarded to Sergeant F. E. Norman, Dorsetshire Regiment

British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Military (5724926 Sgt.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal, nearly extremely fine (5) £500-600

B.E.M. London Gazette 27 April 1944. (Recommended for the award of the George Medal but downgraded to a B.E.M.). The recommendation states: ‘On the evening of 25th March 1943, the Dorset Commando Platoon and the R.W.K. Commando Platoon set out on a two day exercise in assault boats, the purpose of the exercise being to test the endurance of the men and the seaworthiness of the craft. During the nigh the boats were paddled from Manacel Island to Millieha Bay and then man-handled across the island and launched again in Anchor Bay.

At 20:30 hours the next day the two platoons set out in 6 assault boats to make a landing at Chain Tufficha. All went well until the boats tried to round Ras il Wahah, here the sea was very rough and to make matters worse the wind increased until it was blowing hard. All the boats became split up and were driven out to sea. Five managed to reach shore, after paddling for about four hours, where two of them were wrecked.

Sergeant Norman lost contact with the leaders but kept trying to drive his boat round the point and in so doing got blown far out to sea. The waves were breaking aboard constantly and it soon became obvious that no headway was being made. Sergeant Norman then decided to turn back, the crew paddled for five hours as hard as possible but were blown further and further from land. All this time it was necessary to bale almost continually to keep the craft afloat. By about 02:00 hours some of the crew began to despair of reaching safety but Sergeant Norman encouraged them and kept up their spirits by telling them stories of tougher spots from which he had escaped. The Corporal was the first man to give in but he was soon followed by the others who from sheer exhaustion and cramp could paddle no more. From then on Sergeant Norman alone, or with the help of one other man, kept the boat head to sea, at the same time bailing out each time she became dangerously full of water.

Once the engines of a launch was heard nearby and the Sergeant with great presence of mind ordered the men to fire their tommy guns all together at his word of command. Signal cartridges had been rendered u/s long before.

When dawn came the boat was found to be near Cose, Sergeant Norman managed to rally the men with an attempt to reach Shlendi but they had not enough strength left to make any headway. At about 08:00 hours the boat was close under a line of sheer cliffs when a large wave swept down on her and before Sergeant Norman could turn her bow-on the boat swamped and turned over. One of the men grabbed hold of Sergeant Norman so tightly that both of the men were carried under. Sergeant Norman managed to break the grip of the drowning man and pulled him over to the upturned boat. He also caught hold of the Corporal and secured him a hand hold on the bottom of the boat. He then arranged the men three aside so that their weight was balanced, but the Corporal tried to climb onto the boat and in so doing slipped, and sank under water and was drowned. Sergeant Normanswam under the boat looking for him but to no avail. Soon afterwards the remaining five were rescued by a fishing boat.

It is typical of Norman that although so weak from continuous exposure and strain that on being landed he could not use his legs for several hours, he yet felt it his duty whilst swimming in the water to salvage a pistol he found hanging from the up-turned boat. All the men are certain that they owe their lives to Sergeant Norman, and the boat would have floundered during the night and all hands have been lost had not Sergeant Norman, by his own labour and leadership, kept the crew together.’