Commander Anthony Cecil Capel Miers The commemoration service commenced by the VC, DSO*, RN Honoured with Blue Plaque Highland Council Piper playing a selection of music and the ceremony was led by the Very at Cemetery Main Entrance, Bruce Reverend Cannon Dr John Cuthbert from the Gardens, Tomnahurich Cemetery, British Legion. Mr Jim McMaster welcomed Inverness. everybody to the ceremony and Rear Admiral Niall Kilgour CB provided detailed information on Commander Miers Naval career & citation for the award of the VC. This was followed by the unveiling of the plaque by the Deputy Provost, Councillor Graham Ross and the son of Miers VC, Lieutenant Commander John Miers. During the dedication service the plaque was blessed by the Very Reverend Cannon Dr John Cuthbert. Commander Anthony Cecil Capel Miers VC, DSO *, RN Blue Commemorative Plaque mounted at the Main Entrance to Tomnahurich Cemetery, Inverness The eleventh Blue Plaque commemorating a WWII Submariner and VC holder was placed at the Main Entrance to the Tomnahurich Cemetery in Inverness on Saturday 14th September 2019. Over 100 guests, which included the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Inverness, Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Commander John Miers (son) and the Deputy Provost Douglas Young TD, LLB, MCIM, FRSA, WS, DL; of Inverness, Councillor Graham Ross unveil the Blue Plaque Deputy Provost and Leader of the Highland Council, Councillor Graham Ross and Deputy Anthony Cecil Capel Miers was born in Inverness, Rear Admiral Submarines, Commodore Bob Scotland on the 11 November 1906. Sadly, at just Anstey RN and the Chairman of the Submariners 7 years old, his father Douglas, a captain in the Association, Mr Jim McMaster. Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, was killed in action in France in the early days of the First Members of the Miers Family, joined veteran and World War. Two of his uncles also died serving as serving submariners including, the President of army officers, one in the Boer war and the other the Submariners Association, Rear Admiral Niall fatally wounded in 1917 before the third battle of Kilgour CB; the National, West of Scotland and Ypres. The young Anthony quickly developed a Scottish Branches of the Submariners Association remarkable mental toughness thanks also to his with Standards; serving submariners from Faslane formidable mother, who lost three children. Naval Base, the Commanding Officer of Inverness Sea Cadets and a contingent of Sea Educated at Wellington College he developed a Cadets for the ceremony. passion for sport, especially rugby. One friend would say of him: “he never became a good loser. He was fiercely competitive and determined, from his youngest years, to win – whatever and however.” Vice Lord Lieutenant, National, West of Scotland & Scottish Branches Standards dipping for the blessing of the plaque at the ceremony. dockyard and completed in January 1941. Following a work up and short notice patrol in the Bay of Biscay, Torbay was directed to join the 1st Submarine Flotilla based at Alexandria in Egypt. There then followed 11 war patrols in the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean. Miers Family Members Miers joined the royal navy in 1925 as a special- entry cadet, aged 19, initially serving in the battleship HMS Valiant. Three and a half years later he entered the submarine service. His early submarines included M2 as Navigating Officer, H28 as First Lieutenant and HMS Rainbow in Hong Kong, again as First Lieutenant. In 1936, as Commander Anthony Miers VC, DSO*, RN a lieutenant, he was selected for the Commanding Officers qualifying course, the Perisher, which he Each of those patrols was demanding and completed successfully. His first submarine successful in taking the war to the enemy. He command was HMS L54 based with the 5th torpedoed tankers and supply ships, attacked Submarine Flotilla at HMS Dolphin at Gosport, escorts, sunk by gunfire a host of Italian and followed in 1939, by an appointment to the German smaller craft carrying stores and troops, battleship HMS Nelson as the second Staff landed and recovered British troops and Special Operations Officer. Forces operated in difficult waters and inevitably were on the receiving end of many depth charge attacks. On his third patrol in July 1941, Torbay sunk the Italian submarine Jantina for which Miers was awarded the DSO. Later in November 1941 a commando raid was launched from Torbay targeting the HQ of the German commander, General Rommel. For his involvement in the operation Miers received a bar to his DSO. By his ninth patrol Torbay had earned the plaudit ‘Nazi public enemy number one’! Military guests at the Blue Plaque Dedication Ceremony He was always a character. One of his tutor’s prophecies was that he would either be court- martialed or be awarded a VC. Miers being Miers did both! He was indeed court-martialed in 1933 for attempting to strike a stoker over a football match disagreement, the incident only coming to light because Miers reported himself to his Commanding Officer. As he rose in rank, his fiery temperament became legendary; but when the Town House Reception fire-eater cooled down, he was charm personified. th He did not bear grudges; a man put under close In March 1942, Torbay, on her 10 patrol, was arrest at lunchtime would probably find himself operating off the west coast of Greece. Two free by teatime as if nothing had happened. Miers merchant ships were spotted near the Greek island was always fiercely loyal to his ship’s company. of Paxos but were lost in the darkness. Miers then set course for the Corfu channel and sighted a In November 1940 he was appointed to command northbound convoy of four escorted troopships the submarine HMS Torbay in build at Chatham entering the South Corfu channel. Too far to attack, Torbay followed in the hope of catching hours and attacked in full daylight in a glassy them in Corfu harbour. In the event the troopships calm. When he had fired his torpedoes he was passed straight through the channel without heavily counter-attacked and had to withdraw stopping. through a long channel with anti-submarine Torbay entered the enemy-held Corfu channel, 30 craft all round and continuous air patrols miles long, with the island on one side and parts overhead. of the Greek and Albanian mainland on the other. The submarine went to a spot opposite the harbour and remained on the moonlit surface charging her batteries, with enemy craft all around and being forced to dive on occasion to avoid a patrol boat. At dawn Torbay moved in to attack the harbor. The periscope showed two large supply ships, “perfect targets”, at anchor. Torpedoes struck both of them. Torbay went deep, turned and headed for the southern entrance of the channel. Search boats were joined by a destroyer and a plane and 40 HM Submarine TORBAY depth charges were dropped. A large schooner Torbay had one further successful patrol before acting as a boom defence vessel tried to block the departing Alexandria for the UK and refit in southern entrance but Torbay escaped – after 17 Devonport. hours in enemy waters. It was hailed as one of the most remarkable submarine patrols carried out After leaving HMS Torbay Anthony Miers was during the war. appointed to the USA and undertook a number of public relations duties before joining the staff of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, CinC US Pacific fleet. After that his next appointment was Commander SM8 in HMS Maidstone in the Far East. Post war he was the Commanding Officer of HMS Vernon II and then HMS Blackcap – a Fleet Air Arm station. An appointment as Captain SM1 in HM Submarine M2 HMS Forth followed. His last sea command was For this and in recognition of his other actions, the aircraft carrier HMS Theseus. Promoted to Anthony Miers was awarded the Victoria Cross. rear admiral in Jan 1956 Antony Miers was Flag He was invested by King George VI at Officer, Middle East, being awarded the CB in Buckingham palace on the 28th July 1942. His 1958 and KBE in 1959 on retirement. citation read: From 1967 to 1981 Sir Anthony Miers was the For the award of the Victoria Cross, Corfu National President of the Submarine Old Comrades Association (now known as the harbour, Ionian sea, 4th march 1942, Submariners’ Association). Commander Anthony Cecil carpel Mires, Royal Navy (HM Submarine Torbay). For Sir Anthony Miers died on 30th June 1985 at the valour in command of HM Submarine age of 78 in Inverness and was buried in the ‘Torbay’ in a daring and successful raid on Tomnahurich cemetery Inverness. A very shipping in a defended enemy harbour, courageous man, he was an outstanding planned with full knowledge of the great submariner in time of war. hazards to be expected during seventeen hours in waters closely patrolled by the enemy. On arriving in the harbour he had to charge his batteries lying on the surface in full moonlight, under the guns of the enemy. As he could not see his target he waited several Author: Lieutenant Commander Frank (Sandy) Powell – Blue Plaque Project Manager & Member National Management Committee Submariners Association. His impressive medal group including the VC, KBE, CB, DSO and Bar, and Legion of Merit (USA) are now displayed in the Ashcroft gallery, Imperial War museum. XE3 in Sydney Harbour Whilst it was quite windy during the ceremony it was in summary an excellent day and all guests appeared to enjoy themselves. Following the ceremony the piper played “Scotland the Brave” and the Highland Council kindly invited all guests to a reception in the Town House, Inverness. Speeches were given by the Deputy Provost, Rear Admiral Niall Kilgour CB, Lieutenant Commander Miers and Commander Tim Honour.