lieutenant commander march april highly decorated officer awarded distinguished service crosses mentions despatches recommended victoria cross killed action april second world war keen rowed oxford competed double competed international fourteen sailing events times participated race land raced hill climbing events somerset entered hours race times second world war rose rank lieutenant commander commanded 6th motor gun boat flotilla later 8th motor gun boat flotilla early life born march son doctor spent early life start great war father officer unit sent france rest family moved cornwall living cornwall sister taught sail eventually sailing education following great war family returned area sent prep school nearby enrolled father consulting physician retired family moved purchasing outside saint peter port entered oxford read law keen started rowing months second following year stroke week races annual summer head oxford came sixth eighth college lowest position race university joined receiving commission second lieutenant infantry june family purchased cornwall moved death father married life met future wife cornwall married church cornwall april following year joined firm son cornwall clerk instructed solicitor trained london square working london competed double june mother death inherited half father estate time completed articles junior partner january robert catherine sons robert born anthony born competitive sailing time continued sail joined started race events called venture competed coming fifth entered competition taken offshore yacht racing member competed times race channel race june motor racing purchased touring car riley compete hill climbs somerset purchased built hours race year assistance entered car hours driver finished eleventh place overall win competed hours finish returned hours finished twelfth second world war applied transfer summer eventually transferred formed sufficiently sea considered suitable commission declaration war ordered join training depot hms king alfred october passing interview medical promoted sub lieutenant completing training weeks instead normal months war having completed training december promoted lieutenant appointed 5th later 4th moved ship april war period kept busy north_sea action seen german bomber informed evacuated operation leaving assist arriving organised small boats evacuate army ordered home complement soldiers asked left continue evacuation given permission informed find way home arriving dover yacht rejoined june returned times went ashore arrange evacuation end operation work beaches withdrawal allied armies awarded coastal forces having asked transfer sent portland training motor anti submarine boats appointed command november held november appointed commander final command took december boats lightly armed twin vickers machine guns depth charges speed knots january given new command motor gun boat officer command boat 6th flotilla command got nickname boat needed select radio sign think suitable lieutenant suggested stuck remained rest time coastal forces 6th flotilla based april tasked engage german boats raiding east coast convoys stage war armed mixture weapons lewis machine guns vickers machine guns cannon paul gun turrets armament soon standardized twin vickers machine guns bridge cannon mounted aft depth charges boats crew consisting officers petty officers ratings flotilla commander appointed senior officer command 6th flotilla september officer command flotilla second world war new command came promotion lieutenant commander flotilla commander successful action took place night november flotilla ordered patrol miles hook holland engage boats returning base flotilla engaged boats causing damage boats damaging severely forcing disperse boat later found abandoned crew boarded boat captured crew obtained valuable information equipment boat sank action awarded bar citation noting skill readiness action enemy boats sinking damaging members flotilla awarded distinguished service medal mentioned dispatches mid action flotilla second success night december north_sea dutch coast boats engaged boats boat passed twice high speed losing contact twice night located eventually carried depth charge attacks commander boat received mid action major action involved period action night april engaged boats forcing superior force run port severely damaging boat causing slight damage action boats moved safer harbour operate awarded distinguished service order following engagement 8th flotilla appointed commander 8th flotilla new boats armed twin mount aft pounder forward twin lewis later twin vickers machine guns bridge depth charges flotilla moved devon july action involved night july ordered engage boats base found convoy naval escorting small tanker flotilla engaged rear escort carried depth charge attack tanker seen fire flotilla reformed action awarded bar bar presented buckingham palace september members flotilla awarded conspicuous gallantry medal action flotilla action night july flotilla company engaged convoy merchant ships merchant ships hit torpedoes engaged dropping depth charges ships destroyed engaged night august orders patrol north west flotilla located enemy shipping following port passed german torpedo boat lying anchor located boats waiting enter harbour having caught surprise opened fire stationary boats short engagement withdrew leaving enemy boats fire action received second mid members flotilla awarded flotilla ordered autumn contact enemy night september engaged small convoy hook holland followed convoy escorted harbour inflicting considerable damage awarded second bar members flotilla awarded mid recipient offered promotion commander command hms bee training post ashore feeling role declined remained commander 8th flotilla casualties lost boat command night action october engaging went depth charge attack lost enemy fire boat lost night october flotilla ambushed german torpedo boats number boats winter months uneventful started write unfinished account war fought published posthumously flotilla accompanied escorting laying motor launches action night february mixed flotilla engaged convoy escorted lost enemy fire closed stricken boat fire remove crew managed rescue seven crew forced withdraw fire boat set fire rescue night april flotilla ordered escort laying dutch coast detecting engaged leaving fire withdrew hit killing outright wounding bridge received posthumous mid actions victoria_cross recommendation recommended victoria_cross actions night february informed commanding officer commander intention recommend requested recommendation dropped felt endangered boats flotilla trying rescue friends views dropped recommendation weeks later death recommendation endorsed commander admiral commander chief rear admiral rogers flag officer charge recommendation rejected admiralty citing reasons given
Robert Peverell Hichens