THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

WESTMACOTT Herbert Patrick

Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy

CITATION

Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant Westmacott, in command of X24, was in September 1944 detailed to destroy a large floating dock at Bergen, Norway.  X24 was towed from the Shetland Islands to Norwegian waters by the submarine Sceptre, this passage lasted 80 hours and the weather experienced was extremely bad and resulted in Sub-Lieutenant Derek Purdy, RNZNVR being swept overboard and drowned.  This left Lieutenant Westmacott with no other officer and a diver and engineroom artificer as crew.  After slipping the tow and passing through some 30 miles of narrow fiords, X24 arrived at Bergen on 11 September.  Two delay-action charges were placed under the dock and X24 got away unmolested to rejoin the Sceptre that night.  The dock was badly damaged and broken in two by the explosion

(From “NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE ROYAL NAVY”)

Distinguished Service Cross

Gazetted 14 April 1944, Supp 36474, p1776

For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty in successful patrols in H.M. Submarines.

bar to the Distinguished Service Cros

Gazetted 9 November 1945, Supp 37346, p5530

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Service Order

Distinguished Service Cross and bar

1939-45 Star

Atlantic Star

Africa Star

Pacific Star

War Medal 1939-45

NOTES

Born 31 March 1921, Christchurch, New Zealand

Died