Miller, Henry James

Date of birth:: November 28th, 1900 (Poole/Dorset, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: April 29th, 1940 (in the North Sea)
Mentioned on:: Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Nationality:: British

Biography

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British Empire Medal (BEM & EGM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Able Seaman
Unit:: H.M.S. Unity (N66), Royal Navy
Awarded on:: August 26th, 1940

Circumstances of Miller’s EGM:
At 1730 hrs on 29th April 1940 HM Submarine Unity was heading to the North Sea via Blyth on her way to patrol off the coast of Norway. Visibility was reduced to around 300 yards when she left the harbour and moved into the main channel. The Norwegian ship SS Atle Jarl was also in the same main channel steaming from Scotland to the Tyne. Visibility was getting worse and it had dropped to around 100yards when Unity spotted Atle Jarl some 50 yards away heading straight for her. The order was given to close the bulk heads and engines astern just before Atle Jarl collided with the Submarine.

The submarine was taking on large amounts of water so the commander gave the order to abandon ship. Lieutenant Low and Able Seaman Miller volunteered to stay behind in the flooding control room so that their shipmates could escape. The Unity sank five minutes after the collision.

Posthumously awarded. Exchanged for the GC