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Neumann, de, Bernard Peter

Date of birth:
September 18th, 1917 (Hadleigh/Essex, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
September 16th, 1972 (Tilbury Dockside/Essex, United Kingdom)
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Bernard de Neumann was killed in an accident in 1972.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Second Officer
Unit:
s.s. Tewkesbury, British Merchant Navy
Awarded on:
October 7th, 1941
Citation:
"For brave conduct when their ship was attacked by enemy aircraft."

On 1 March 1941, whilst his ship was off Aberdeen in convoy, it came under attack by three German bombers.  His ship shot one down, but was struck by a 550lb bomb that penetrated deep into the engine-room, but did not explode.  With the ship's engine running beneath them, De Neumann and the Second Engineer manoeuvred the bomb up to the boat deck, a vertical lift of more than forty feet, and then over the side where it exploded.
George Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Second Officer
Unit:
s.s. Tewkesbury, British Merchant Navy
Awarded on:
January 8th, 1942
Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Wtith "France and Germany" Bar
Atlantic Star
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With "NORTH-AFRICA 1942-43" clasp.
Africa Star
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
His handling of the rescue attempt following the sinking of the Tug Sunfish under Tower Bridge on 12 March 1960. The Sunfish was aft and the Sun VI forward of the Ellerman Lines' Palermo, dragging through Tower Bridge inward bound in the Upper Pool, when the Sunfish was dragged on the Northern Buttress of the bridge. Her stern struck, rolling her over, and she sank with the loss of her Chief Engineer. She was raised the next day, refurbished, and returned to service.
King's/Queen's Commendation for brave conduct
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
Rescuing the crew of the Tug Kenia when she sank in the New Lock bellmouth, Tilbury Dock, on 25 August 1964. The Crested Cock and the Kenia were undocking the Maashaven from Tilbury Dock New Entrance. The ship started her swing to starboard in the Bellmouth and the Kenia was on the port bow when coming around, the Maashaven went ahead and pinned her to the upper pier head before she cleared the ship’s bow. The Kenia was cut from the deck to the keel in the after end of the engine room starboard side. A line was passed to the pier head and secured, and all crew rapidly taken ashore, before she sank. Kenia was raised by the PLA Salvage Department and scrapped.
King's/Queen's Commendation for brave conduct
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
Attempting to save the life of a crane driver injured when his crane toppled across the open hold of a ship in Tilbury Dock on 10 March 1966. The crane driver died before he could be released.
King's/Queen's Commendation for brave conduct

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