76558 Chaplain The Rev. Herbert Cecil PUGH, George Cross, RAFVR: 05/07/1941

CL1 · Feb 7, 2023

Cecil Pugh - Wikipedia

Brignorth Shrophire

davidbfpo · Feb 7, 2023

His GC citation reads:

The Reverend H. C. Pugh, after seeing service in this country, was posted to Takoradi and embarked on H.M.T. Anselm, carrying over 1,300 passengers; for West Africa at the end of June, 1941. She was torpedoed in the Atlantic in the early hours of the 5 July 1941. One torpedo hit a hold on Deck C, destroying the normal means of escape. Mr. Pugh came up on deck in a dressing gown and gave all the help he could. He seemed to be everywhere at once, doing his best to comfort the injured, helping with the boats and rafts (two of these were rendered unserviceable as a result of the explosion) and visiting the different lower sections where men were quartered.

When he learned that a number of injured airmen were trapped in the damaged hold, he insisted on being lowered into it with a rope. Everyone demurred because the hold was below the water line and already the decks were awash and to go down was to go to certain death. He simply explained that he must be where his men were. The deck level was already caving in and the hold was three parts full of water so that, when he knelt to pray, the water reached his shoulders. Within a few minutes the ship plunged and sank and Mr. Pugh was never seen again. He had every opportunity of saving his own life but, without regard for his own safety and in the best tradition of the Service and of a Christian minister, he gave up his life for others
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From The London Gazette (alas link fails) so via: Cecil Pugh - Wikipedia

Quarterfinal · Feb 9, 2023

Having noted that he was in ministry in Friern Barnet for several years before the War and his children would have attended local schools, I have dropped a prompt to the local history society suggesting he may be a worthy candidate for adding to lists of notable former citizens, including:
Friern Barnet - Wikipedia

Afternote: LHS advise they featured him in their Newsletter 28/2007:
http://www.friern-barnethistory.org.uk/userfiles/file/Newsletters/2000-2009/2007/No-28-Jan-2007.pdf

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76558 Chaplain The Rev. Herbert Cecil PUGH, George Cross, RAFVR: 05/07/1941

CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

davidbfpo Patron Patron

Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

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76558 Chaplain The Rev. Herbert Cecil PUGH, George Cross, RAFVR: 05/07/1941

CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

davidbfpo Patron Patron

Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

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