Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Chief Petty Officer R. M. K. Adam, Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet Clearance Diving Team

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, B. & M. Clearance Mediterranean (D/JX. 911556 R. M. K. Adam. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (JX.911556 R. M. K. Adam. P.O. H.M.S. Osprey.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine and very rare (2) £2,400-£2,800

Approximately 60 ‘Bomb and Mine Clearance Mediterranean’ clasps issued to men of the Fleet Clearance Diving Team and men of the seaman branch employed in the removal of recovered bombs and mines. The clasp was awarded for six months’ consecutive work in the disposal of bombs and mines during the period of 1 January 1953 to 31 December 1960. The majority of the work centred around Malta and, in particular, the main harbour of Valletta where large quantities of bombs were recovered from a number of merchant vessels that had been sunk by air attack during the Second War, such as the motor vessels Talbot and Pampas.

‘The MFCD Team were responsible not only for mines and unexploded ordnance in the water, but also any enemy aircraft bombs found on land. The largest bomb dealt with by Adam and the other members of the team, was a 1,000 kg German aircraft bomb known as ‘Herman’. This was the largest bomb made by the Germans in WWII. The explosive content was a staggering 600 kg (1,320 lbs) of high explosive. It was discovered outside the main entrance to St. John’s Cathedral in Valetta. A statue now marks the spot.’

Robert Muir Kerr Adam was born in Glasgow on 10 January 1937, and entered the Navy as a Boy 1st Class in 1952, advancing to Ordinary Seaman in January 1955, and subsequently: Able Seaman in December 1955; Leading Seaman in December 1962; Petty Officer in December 1964; Chief Petty Officer in 1972; and eventually retiring in 1977.

Adam was a member of the Mediterranean Fleet Clearance Diving Team from 3 June 1957 to 31 December 1959, and, according to his Record of Diving Service was engaged in ‘Much hazardous operational Bomb and Mine Disposal. NATO C.D. exercises... all forms of C.D. operations, with vast experience of air diving.’

In the photograph of the M.F.C.D. Team taken in 1960, the cap tallies show that the team were stationed at H.M.S. Phoenicia, the Royal Navy diving base at Manoel Island, Malta.

Admiral Charles E. Lambe, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, Malta, highlighted in a letter dated 17 January 1958, the scope of the work undertaken by the Diving Team during the pervious year:

‘Mediterranean Fleet Clearance Diving Team

I wish to draw the attention of the Fleet to the work carried out during the past year by the Mediterranean Fleet Clearance Diving Team which has involved some 50 separate operations to render safe, often underwater, and dispose of, over 900 missiles of various kinds. These have included the disposal of a live magnetic-acoustic mine containing 1,536 lbs of high explosive, and a bomb containing 2,100 lbs of high explosive. 18 bombs have been found to contain a particularly sensitive trembler type anti disturbance fuse.

The operation concerning the mine mentioned above was probably the highlight of the year’s endeavours. The mine, a German type C which was found lodged against a jetty in Benghazi harbor, was rendered safe after two and a half hours’ work underwater and subsequently lifted and ditched in deep water. Examination of parts removed from this mine showed that, despite 16 years’ immersion, it was still I working and lethal condition. Expression of gratitude for this operation have been received from consular and local government authorities at Benghazi.’

Adam received his N.G.S. medal in March 1967 whilst stationed at H.M.S. Vernon, and his L.S. & G.C. medal with gratuity of £20 whilst stationed at H.M.S. Osprey

Sold with group photograph of the M.F.C.D. Team at Malta in 1960, a cloth and bullion diver’s badge and copied record of service including full diving history and confirmation of both medals.