Dudley William Mason

Dudley William Mason
Dudley William Mason
Dudley W. Mason
Dudley W. Mason, GC
Born 7 October 1901
Surbiton, England
Died 26 April 1987 (aged 85)
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg British Merchant Navy
Rank Merchant Navy Master
Commands held SS Ohio
Battles/wars Operation Pedestal,
Second World War
Awards George Cross UK ribbon.png George Cross

Dudley William Mason GC was master of the tanker SS Ohio during the Second World War. He commanded the tanker during Operation Pedestal, a convoy to relieve Malta. He was awarded the George Cross for this operation.[1]

Contents

Early life

Dudley Mason was born into a simple family in Surbiton. His father was a chauffeur. Mason went to school in Long Ditton before going to sea as an apprentice at 17 in June 1920.

George Cross action

In August 1942, the Ohio, a 14,000-ton tanker belonging to the Texas Oil Company on loan to the British Ministry of War Transport, was one of 14 merchant vessels sent to aid Malta. The convoy, with naval and air escort, met enemy action on 11 August. The next day, when air attacks began, it became apparent the tanker was the main target. For four days she suffered continuous attacks from aircraft and submarines. She sustained grave damage from a torpedo, two sticks of bombs lifted her out of the water and another exploded in her boiler room. A Stuka crashed and exploded on her deck, her back was broken and she was twice abandoned and reboarded. In spite of this she reached Malta on 15 August and was literally carried into Valletta harbour, lashed between the destroyers HMS Ledbury and HMS Penn, and not until the last of her fuel had been pumped out did she finally settle on the bottom. Captain Mason's GC was not only for his personal courage and determination but for his crew. Other gallantry awards to the crew of Ohio during Operation Pedestal included a Distinguished Service Order, five Distinguished Service Crosses and seven Distinguished Service Medals.

Citation

St. James's Palace, S.W.i. 8th September, 1942.
CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.

The KING has been graciously pleased to award the GEORGE CROSS to Captain Dudley William Mason, Master, SS Ohio. During the passage to Malta of an important convoy Captain Mason's ship suffered most violent onslaught. She was a focus of attack throughout and was torpedoed early one night. Although gravely damaged, her engines were kept going and the Master made a magnificent passage by hand-steering and without a compass. The ship's gunners helped to bring down one of the attacking aircraft. The vessel was hit again before morning, but though she did not sink, her engine room was wrecked. She was then towed. The unwieldy condition of the vessel and persistent enemy attacks made progress slow, and it was uncertain whether she would remain afloat. All next day progress somehow continued and the ship reached Malta after a further night at sea. The violence of the enemy could not deter the Master from his purpose. Throughout he showed skill and courage of the highest order and it was due to his determination that, in spite of the most persistent enemy opposition, the vessel, with her valuable cargo, eventually reached Malta and was safely berthed. (The award is dated 4th September, 1942.)

Award of the George Cross.
Master Dudley William Mason, R.M.N. , 1113869 Discharge Number

The London Gazette, 8th September, 1942[2]

Notes

  1. ^ "Dudley William Mason, GC". George Cross database. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20071116141215/http://www.gc-database.co.uk/recipients/MasonDW.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
  2. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35695. p. 3911. 8 September 1942. Retrieved 2007-11-22.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • William Regal — Darren Matthews en 2007. Nom(s) de ring Steve Regal Lord Steven Regal Steven Regal William Regal Sir William Regal The Real Man s Man Taille 1,88 m Poids …   Wikipédia en Français

  • William Regal — Ring name(s) Steve Regal[1] Lord Steven Regal King Regal …   Wikipedia

  • Dudley, Massachusetts —   Town   Village Cemetery 1832 …   Wikipedia

  • William Evarts — William M. Evarts. William Maxwell Evarts (* 6. Februar 1818 in Boston, Massachusetts; † 28. Februar, 1901 in New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Rechtsanwalt und Staatsmann. Er war vom 12. März 1877 bis 7. März 1881 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • William Maxwell Evarts — William M. Evarts. William Maxwell Evarts (* 6. Februar 1818 in Boston, Massachusetts; † 28. Februar, 1901 in New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Rechtsanwalt und Staatsmann. Er war vom 12. März 1877 bis 7. März 1881 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • William Gillette — William Gilette en 1895 Nombre real William Hooker Gillette Nacimiento 24 de julio de 1853 …   Wikipedia Español

  • William Palmer Stockwell — Nacimiento 1898 Fallecimiento 1950 Residencia EE.UU. Nacionalidad estadounidense Campo …   Wikipedia Español

  • William Whittingham — For the Episcopal bishop in America, see William Whittingham (bishop). William Whittingham (c. 1524 1579) was an English Biblical scholar and religious reformer. Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, he became a zealous Protestant; as such he… …   Wikipedia

  • William Lowndes Yancey — Infobox Congressman honorific prefix = name = William Lowndes Yancey honorific suffix = state = Alabama district = 3rd party = Democratic term start = December 2, 1844 term end = September 1, 1846 preceded = Dixon Hall Lewis title2 = Head of… …   Wikipedia

  • William "Billy" Nungesser — Infobox Officeholder name= William A. Billy Nungesser caption= William Billy Nungesser office=Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party term start=1988 term end=1992 preceded=Donald Bollinger succeeded=William Dudley Dud Lastrapes, Jr. birth… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”