100-year-old Sub Lt Boyd Salmon RNVR visits Horsea Island
28 Jun 2024 - Boyd Salmon was commissioned as a Sub Lt in the RNVR on 21 October 1944. After initial officer training at HMS KING ALFRED in Hove, he volunteered for special branch duties as an RMS officer not realising until later that this meant he would be defuzing bombs and mines as a Rendering Mines Safe officer. He underwent training on mines at HMS VERNON and its outstations in the Portsmouth area where he performed some diving in the now demolished mining trials tank as well as at HMS VERNON(D) in Brixham. He was also trained in explosives at HMS VOLCANO in Cumbria.
HMS VERNON(M)’s Enemy Mining Section in 1944
Back row: Sub Lt Boyd Salmon RNVR, Lt Ernest Ruttle MBE RANVR, Lt Stephen Wilkinson RN (Mentioned in Despatches) and Lt Thomas Gray MBE RNVR
Front row: Lt Cdr Herbert Wadsley DSC GM* RNVR, Cdr John Ouvry DSO RN, Lt George Goodman MBE GC RNVR and Lt Leon Goldsworthy GC DSC GM RANVR
After being assigned to VERNON’s Enemy Mining Section, Boyd was posted to the newly liberated Continent where he was involved in explosive ordnance disposal until a mine exploded at Walcheren and he received a serious stomach injury from shrapnel. He was evacuated back to the UK where his medical treatment and recovery took several years. In 1948, he fell for one of his physiotherapists and married her two years later.
CD Branch legend Ginge Fullen QGM tracked down Boyd while researching one of his books chronicling the branch’s history and arranged for him to visit Horsea Island for a tour today. Having long been involved with Ginge’s research, I helped him host Boyd and his daughter Nicola for the occasion.
On our arrival at Horsea Island, we were met by CPO(D) Ben ‘Duncs’ Duncan and PO(D) Richie Bailey. We first witnessed circuits being undertaken by the current CD course being run by DDS (Defence Diving School). As most of us know, these circuits comprise jumping from a high board in diving suits, finning across Horsea Lake, and then running around the edge to repeat the process. Boyd was persuaded to order the course “Round the buoy” whereupon they re-entered the water and swam around a mooring buoy before heading to their classroom for theory instruction. I managed to take a snap of Boyd with the boys before they disappeared.
We then moved to Bridge Building which houses the headquarters of DTXG (Diving & Threat Exploitation Group, formerly the Fleet Diving Group) and home of the various area and fleet diving teams. It seemed as though ‘clear lower deck’ had been ordered and we were treated to refreshments in the rest room and a short speech of welcome by CPO(D) Craig Waghorn (aka 'Waggy') before people engaged in various conversations. We then went to one of the team bays where Boyd was introduced to various pieces of kit by different members of the group.
Boyd had lost his wartime campaign medals at some stage of his life. Unknown to him, Ginge Fullen had arranged for the production of replicas which Séan Heaton (aka ‘Central’), CO of DTXG, handed to Boyd in a presentation case accompanied by an enthusiastic round of applause from all those present. Speeches of appreciation were also given by Central and Waggy Waghorn. Boyd was also given a DTXG challenge coin, which fitted neatly into the presentation case, as well as a pair of Bomb Disposal shoulder flashes.
After saying our farewells, Ginge And I accompanied Boyd and Nicola to a restaurant in the adjacent Port Solent marina area for a light lunch whereupon Boyd enjoyed a Guinness (although it had to be warmed to room temperature first).
