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The Ron Penhall Collection The Second World War Malta convoys D.S.M., Daily Herald Industrial Order of Merit pair awarded to Carpenter N. W. Owen, Merchant Navy: decorated for his gallant part in “Operation Pedestal”, which he completed aboard the tanker Ohio after the loss of his own ship, the Deucalion, he went on to win the “Worker’s V.C.” for his courage during a diving incident off Holyhead in 1952 - an incident in which he had to cut off one of his own fingers Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (N. W. Owen, Cptr.), in its case of issue; The Daily Herald Order of Industrial Heroism, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘Norman W. Owen, 22nd September 1952’, in its fitted case of issue, extremely fine (2) Footnote D.S.M. London Gazette 26 January 1943: ‘For distinguished services during the passage to Malta of an important convoy.’ The original recommendation states: ‘The Carpenter, N. W. Owen, continued to sound the ship and make reports, carrying out his many duties in the face of all attacks. This man never ceased doing what was required of him and was perfectly cool and efficient throughout.’ Daily Herald Order of Industrial Merit (Case No. 235): ‘In July 1951, Norman Owen, D.S.M., a British Railways’ deep-sea diver, was working on the removal of old pile stumps of a former pier at Holyhead, when a rope sling 27 feet beneath the surface was found to have twisted. Diver Owen went down to straighten it. While he was working on the wire, a block and pulley dropped a few inches and trapped two fingers on his right hand. The block moved and tore off one of the fingers. He was unable to control the air valve in his diving helmet with his left hand and knew that he could not stay under water much longer. Diver Owen was held 27 feet below the surface with a terrible decision to make. He took his knife from its sheath - and cut off the trapped finger. Then he gave the signal to haul up. But the tale of Owen’s courage does not end there. When he was brought to the surface, he maintained his attitude of calm and after his diving suit had been removed, telling his mates to keep cool, he walked unaided 200 yards to the hospital.’ Norman Warden Owen joined the Merchant Navy as a Carpenter in 1938 and was homeward bound in the Blue Funnel Line’s M.V. Deucalion on the outbreak of hostilities. Having survived bomb damage during a raid on Liverpool docks in 1940, the Deucalion was ordered to the Malta run, in which capacity she participated in “Operation Substance” before her epic part in “Pedestal” - nor was the former trip uneventful for, having withstood aircraft and U-boat attacks, she was damaged by a mine. The M.V. “Deucalion” and “Operation Pedestal” The importance of the “Pedestal” operation needs no introduction here, but it is worth recalling the bare facts: of the 14 merchantmen that set out, nine were sunk, including Deucalion, and three damaged, while the Senior Service lost an aircraft carrier, two cruisers and one destroyer, as well as having another half a dozen ships damaged. For the likes of Norman Owen, aboard Deucalion, the moment of truth arrived on Wednesday 12 August 1942, when his ship was sunk after two separate enemy aircraft attacks - the first, in which she was hit by bombs, much reduced her speed, and the second, delivered by an enemy torpedo bomber, finished her off. Richard Woodman describes both attacks in his definitive history, Malta Convoy: ‘Leading the port column as a convoy guide, Deucalion was soon in trouble. At 13.00 a stick of bombs fell about her. One hit the starboard after well deck, abreast the mainmast, pierced the ship and did not explode; the second struck the port gunwhale of No. 1 Lifeboat slung outboard on the bridge deck, scraped the side and exploded as it hit the water; and the third burst against the ship’s starboard bow at the after end of No. 1 hatch. Despite Deucalion’s massive scantlings, ‘it seemed as if the ship almost went on her beam ends with the explosion and she seemed to