Date of birth:

1920 (Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK)

Date of death:

March 3rd, 1998 (London, UK)

Service number:

C/JX 639546

Nationality:

British

Able Seaman s.s. Avanville

Comment given by William Nash:
"For reasons that might become apparent, his subsequent postings and service history may have been lost due to an incident that happened on HMS Daffodil moored on the Thames.
After his presentation and reporting to be reassigned, the officer dealing with the duty made remarks about an Acting/Able Seaman serving on a merchant ship being awarded a D.S.M. and most dangerous of all to a proud,(if firey) Irishman from Belfast, he insulted the "The Ignorant Belfast Mick".
Bernard promptly laid the officer on his back which landed him in the Brig.
When the Commanding Officer heard of the details of the incident he advised Bernard to be on a ship that was in Tilbury Docks and was sailing to the Far East that evening and that he should be on it.
Over three years later when Bernard returned from the War against the Japanese he returned to a three years old baby son and no talk of Court Martial ( you can't be found if you are in the middle of a war on a Merchant ship on the other side of the world)."

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• Photo 1: William Nash
• - Citation Letter.
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36858/supplement/5916/data.pdf
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36783/supplement/5090