Royal Navy Submariners Join Forces To Help A WW2 Veteran In Distress

Members of the Royal Navy have joined forces in a heart-warming bid to aid a veteran in distress.

In October this year, World War Two veteran and submariner Harry Melling was the victim of a vicious robbery at his home in Wigan.

The 92-year-old was pushed to the ground by his assailant, before having his wallet stolen.

On hearing of the incident, fellow submariner and Command Warrant Officer, Andy Knox, decided to do something to help:

"I learned about Harry's ordeal on the national news as I was driving from Portsmouth to Faslane.

"I got his address from his local church and arranged to call in. I was soon listening to some of Harry's fascinating stories about his time in the Submarine Service."

Harry had joined the Royal Navy in a "Hostilities Only" capacity, meaning he would serve only for the duration of the War.

After a brief period on depot ship HMS Medway, he joined Royal Navy submarine HMS Osiris in July 1943.

The submarine played an active role in Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily.

As British, US and Canadian troops made amphibious landings, HMS Osiris acted to intercept Italian warships attempting to halt the invasion.

Harry later went on to join HMS Tuna, the submarine involved in clandestinely transporting the famous Royal Marine Cockleshell Heroes to France in order to carry out attacks on enemy shipping.

"When I visited Harry I mentioned that the Submariners' Remembrance Service and Parade was due to be held in London.

"Harry was really keen to attend so I decided to go to my fellow submariners at HM Naval Base Clyde to see what we could do to raise money to get Harry there.

“It became a sort of mission for us - let's get Harry to London!"

A Just Giving page was soon set up, with the initial aim of raising £500.

But the response from the submariner community was overwhelming, eventually raising an amazing £1,500.

Twenty junior submariners who had recently passed-out from the Submarine Qualifying Course (SMQ) at HM Naval Base Clyde made a large contribution.

During their passing-out parade on November 2nd, the trainees presented Warrant Officer Knox with a cheque for £305 to help Harry.

So on November 4th, Harry joined his fellow submariners at a poignant service at Westminster Abbey.

The following day, he joined an estimated 400 participants at the National Submarine War Memorial in Middle Temple Gardens, London, for the Parade and main service.

Accompanied by his Great Nephew, Matthew, and Matthew's fiancée Eleanor, Harry paid tribute to those submariners who had "Crossed the Bar" in the service of their country.

The man who started it all, Command Warrant Officer Andy Knox said: 

"Getting Harry to London was an amazing example of the unbreakable bond which submariners share, regardless of the years which separate them."

"We very much take the attitude of 'once a submariner, always a submariner' and were delighted we could help."