Image Bank
Hartlepool
HMS Melbreak during World War Two
This photograph was taken on board HMS Melbreak during World War Two. The man second from the right is called Donald Johnson. He worked on the ship as Stoker First Class. Shortly after this picture was taken his ship was patrolling in the North Sea, near France. It was 28th August 1944 when enemy aircraft bombed the Melbreak. Five of the crew were killed, and many more were wounded. The ship began to take in water and was in danger of sinking. Don was badly wounded with a splinter of metal in his eye. In spite of this he crawled into the lower part of the ship, looking for underwater damage. It was completely dark, and he had only a torch for light. He found a large hole in the side of the ship, and held a piece of wood against it until help arrived. If the leak had not been stopped tons of water would have got into the ship and many more lives would have been lost. King George VI awarded him the British Empire Medal for his ‘magnificent courage, fortitude and presence of mind’.
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