Donald Cameron (VC)
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Donald Cameron (March 18, 1916 - April 10, 1961) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is one of three VC winners from the small town of Carluke in South Lanarkshire (population 7,000). The Rotary Club of Carluke have erected a millennium stone in the town market place to commemorate this.
[edit] Details
He was 27 years old, and a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 22 September 1943 at Kåfjord, North Norway, Lieutenant Cameron, commanding Midget Submarine X.6, and another lieutenant (Basil Charles Godfrey Place) commanding Midget Submarine X.7, carried out a most daring and successful attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz. The submarines had to travel at least 1,000 miles from base, negotiate a minefield, dodge nets, gun defences and enemy listening posts. Having eluded all these hazards they finally placed the charges underneath the ship where they went off an hour later, doing so much damage that the Tirpitz was out of action for months.
He later achieved the rank of commander.
[edit] References
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Hampshire)
