Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Lieutenant

Unit:

HMS Vernon

Awarded on:

October 23rd, 1945

Citation:
"When a " Biber " Midget Submarine was being brought into Dover on January 8th, 1945 the tow-line parted and it sank making location very difficult. As it was the first of its type to be recovered instructions had been given that it had to be raised at all costs and Lieutenant Steele showed great courage and initiative in carrying out this extremely hazardous operation.
When the submarine had at last been located and brought into shallow water, it was found to have one torpedo on board which was in the dangerous position and not set to safe. As any small slip or jolt to the submarine might have released the torpedo and caused it to fire, Lieutenant Steele took very great precaution in lifting it. Moreover the pistol was found to be of a new type and rendering it safe was a matter ol some guesswork and consequently, very dangerous.
The weather during the whole of the operation was very rough, and frequent snow-storms militated against the gentle handling of the torpedo, making the task even more hazardous.
Lieutenant Steele also found and removed the submarine's scuttling charges which were in a particularly awkward position in the partly- flooded submarine. Any false move on his part in the bad light would have resulted in an explosion and his own destruction, but by his courage and devotion to duty the whole of this new type of midget submarine was captured intact as well as the latest type of torpedo pistol.
Lieutenant Steele also took part in the recovery of a new type of torpedo from a Seehunde Midget Submarine stranded oft Yarmouth on 7th February, 1945. This was also a very delicate and dangerous operation carried out under extremely difficult conditions in bad weather, and calling for great endurance and devotion to duty from this Officer and his helpers. The submarine went aground on the Scroby sands and when it was possible to land there Lieutenant Steele found that it was largely buried in liquid sand and very difficult to salvage. With the aid of a bulldozer and tractor and sheer determination, sufficient of the submarine was uncovered to make recovery of the torpedo possible. The weather and condition of the sand made it necessary to work as quickly as possible, and Lieutenant Steele and his party worked for thirty hours at a stretch in order to complete the operation successfully. The recovery of these new types of enemy weapons was of the greatest use in deciding on appropriate counter measures, which were very necessary at that time, as the midget submarine was a menace to coastal and cross-channel shipping."