Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts
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Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts VC, DSC (July 28, 1917 - December 8, 1979) was an English 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.
[edit] Details
He was 24 years old, and a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 16 February 1942 north of Crete, in the Mediterranean, HM Submarine Thrasher, after attacking and sinking a supply ship, was itself attacked, and later after surfacing, two unexploded bombs were discovered in the gun-casing. Lieutenant Roberts and a petty officer (Thomas William Gould) removed the first one without too much difficulty, but the second was lying in a very confined space and they had to approach it lying full length. The petty officer then lay on his back with the bomb in his arms while the lieutenant dragged him along by the shoulders. It was 40 minutes before they got the bomb clear and dropped it over the side.
[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)
[edit] External links
- Lieutenant P.S.W. Roberts & Petty Officer Gould in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
- Location of grave and VC medal (Devonshire)
