"When enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of hand grenades
on Namsos wharf, with no shore water supply available, Lieutenant
Stannard ran Arab's bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending
all but two of his crew aft, he then endeavored for two hours to
extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in
this work till he had to give up the attempt as hopeless. After helping other ships against air attacks, he placed his own
damaged vessel under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and those of
two other trawlers, and established an armed camp. Here those off duty
could rest while he attacked enemy aircraft which approached by day, and
kept anti-submarine watch during the night. When another trawler nearby was hit and set on fire by a bomb,
he, with two others, boarded Arab and moved her 100 yards before the
other vessel blew up. Finally, when leaving the fjord, he was attacked
by a German bomber which ordered him to steer East or be sunk. He held
on his course, reserved his fire till the enemy was within 800 yards,
and then brought the aircraft down. Throughout a period of five days Arab was subjected to 31 bombing
attacks and the camp and Lewis gun positions ashore were repeatedly
machine-gunned and bombed; yet the defensive position was so well
planned that only one man was wounded. Lieutenant Stannard ultimately brought his damaged ship back to an
English port. His continuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy was
magnificent, and his enterprise and resource not only caused losses to
the Germans but saved his ship and many lives."
From Lt. Stannard's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on 16 August 1940.
May you be at peace,
Brian
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