The London Gazette
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Wumfc 37346 5529 THIRD SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of FRIDAY, the gtk of NOVEMBER, 1945 OF Registered as a newspaper TUESDAY, 13 NOVEMBER, 1945 CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS obtained at least one direct hit, sinking the OF KNIGHTHOOD. destroyer. Lieutenant Gray has consistently St. James's Palace, S.W.I. shown a brilliant fighting spirit and most in- j.$th November, 1945. spiring leadership. The KING -has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to Lieutenant Ian Edward FRASER, D.S.C., the Most Excellent Order of the British R.N.R. Empire: — Lieutenant Fraser commanded His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE-3 in a suc- To be Additional Members of the Military cessful attack on a Japanese heavy cruiser Division of the said Most Excellent Order: of the Atago class at her moorings in Johore Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Edgar Henry Strait, Singapore, on 3ist July, 1945- Bur- MUNDAV, vR.N.V.R. ing the long approach up the Singapore Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Frank OGDEN, Straits XE-3 deliberately left the believed safe R.N.V.R., channel and entered mined waters to avoid for skill, efficiency and outstanding devo- suspected hydrophone posts. The target was tion to duty whilst serving as Passage crews aground, or nearly aground, both fore and in H.M. Submarines XE-3 and XE-i prior aft, and only under the midship portion was to the attack, on 3ist July, 1945, on a Japan- there just sufficient water for XE-3 to place ese heavy cruiser which was moored in the herself under the cruiser. For forty minutes Johore Straits, Singapore. XE-3 pushed her way along the seabed until Captain (Acting Major) Douglas Burns finally Lieutenant Fraser managed to force DRYSDALE, Royal Marines, her right under the centre of the cruiser. for gallant and distinguished service in Here he placed the limpets and dropped his Burma whilst attached to the Allied Land main side charge. Great difficulty was ex- Forces, South East Asia, during the period perienced in extricating the craft after the i-6th November, 1944, to I5th February, attack had been completed, but finally XE-3 was clear, and commenced her long return 1945- journey out to sea. The courage and deter- mination of Lieutenant Fraser are beyond all praise. Any man not possessed of his re- ADMIRALTY lentless determination to achieve his object Whitehall, in full, regardless of all consequences, i$th November, 1945. would have dropped his side charge along- The KING has been graciously pleased to side the target instead of persisting until approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS he had forced his submarine right under the for valour to: — cruiser. The approach and withdrawal en- the late Temporary Lieutenant Robert Hampton tailed a passage of 80 miles through water GRAY, R.C.N.V.R., which had been mined by both the enemy for great valour in leading an attack on and ourselves, past hydrophone positions, a Japanese destroyer in Onagawa Wan on over loops and controlled minefields, and 9th August, 1945. In the face of fire from through an anti-submarine boom. shore batteries and a heavy concentration of fire from some five warships Lieutenant Gray Temporary Acting Leading Seaman James pressed home his attack, flying very low in Joseph MAGENNIS, D/JX. 144907. order to ensure success, and, although he Leading Seaman Magennis served as Diver was hit and his aircraft was in flames, he in His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE-3 f°r.