Date of birth:

March 16th, 1912 (Blackpool,/Lancashire, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

May 15th, 1985

Service number:

JX 130981

Nationality:

British

Eric Shoesmith joined the Navy as a boy entrant in HMS Impregnable at Devonport in 1927 at the age of 15. After training, his first ship was the light cruiser HMS Curacao.
His next ships were the aircraft carriers Courageous and Furious as he was now serving in the Fleet Air Arm as a Telegraphist Air Gunner.
In 1936 Shoesmith joined 718 Flight on the cruiser HMS Exeter.
Shoesmith left Exeter before 1st March 1942 when she was lost in an action against the Japanese
On leaving the navy he joined the Admiralty. He continued working in the radar section until his retirement as a PTO111 in March 1977 when he received the ISM

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Leading Airman Fleet Air Arm

Unit:

H.M.S Exeter (68), Royal Navy

Awarded on:

February 23rd, 1940

Citation:
"who on his own initiative, despite his clothing being soaked in petrol, climbed on to the top of the centre section of the aircraft and cleared the triatic stay which had .fallen across it, thus freeing the aircraft for jettisoning. While he did this the ship was under heavy fire, the petrol leaking from the aircraft was a great danger, and a Turret was firing on a forward bearing."

In recognition of the gallant and successful action with the " Admiral Graf Spee."

Rank:

Professional and Technology Officer III

Unit:

Ministry of Defence

Awarded on:

May 3rd, 1977

On the occasion of his retirement from the Ministry of Defence.

• - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34796
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/47213/supplement/5998
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