Blue Plaque for UWWP Divers Unveiled in Gibraltar

24 Sep 2026 - As I have declared previously, Eamon ‘Ginge’ Fullen is an extraordinary fellow. Apart from being a former Clearance Diver awarded the QGM (Queen’s Gallantry Medal) in recognition of his bravery during the hazardous rescue operations after the capsize of the loaded cross-Channel car ferry MV HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE off Zeebrugge on the night of 6 March 1987, he is also a world record holder for the number of highest peaks climbed in the most countries of the world. For relaxation, he competes in some of Britain’s quirkiest competitions.

Already the author of many books chronicling individual RN divers and the history of RN diving, he excelled himself last Saturday 19 September for having organised the installation and unveiling of a blue plaque at Rosia Bay in Gibraltar commemorating the wartime Royal Navy divers of the UWWP (Under Water Working Party). This group countered the Italian Decima MAS frogmen, riding human torpedoes, attacking anchored shipping with limpet mines and other explosive devices.

The blue plaque is flanked by these two information boards.

The plaque was funded by the HDS (Historical Diving Society) and Andrew Bailey MBE, son of Lt Cdr Bill Bailey CBE GM & Bar DSC who formed and commanded the UWWP from February 1942 to October 1943. As chronicled on this website, Ginge Fullen also organised the unveiling of the plaques for the ‘P’ Party divers at Brixham and the LCOCU (Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Unit) divers at Appledore last year. The MCDOA made a donation of £250 towards the cost of the reception following the ceremony. Other funding was provided by Capt Al Nekrews CBE QGM RN and ex-CDs Scouse Shaw, Scouse Booker, Steve Gould and Ginge Fullen himself.

Ginge started his chronicle about the UWWP after tracking down many relatives of the original members, most notably Andrew Bailey MBE, son of Electrical Lt (later Lt Cdr) William ‘Bill’ Bailey CBE DSC GM & Bar RNVR who arrived in Gibraltar in 1941, qualified in diving with the submarine depot ship HMS MAIDSTONE then formed and led the team. Contrary to popular mythology and largely because of the fictional film titled The Silent Enemy, Lt (later Cdr) Lionel Crabb GM MBE RNVR, who has erroneously been credited with many of Bailey’s achievements, was only present in Gibraltar for the last three of the nine Italian attacks and didn’t take over the UWWP until a month after Italy had capitulated and Bailey had been sent home owing to a broken ankle.

The unveiling ceremony in Gibraltar provided the opportunity for many serving and veteran clearance divers, and their wives and partners, to socialise ‘off piste’ during the weekend. Among those attending in some capacity or another were MCDOA members Tim Davey (Commander British Forces Gibraltar) with his wife Caroline, Al Nekrews CBE QGM (who unveiled the plaque) with his wife Viktoria, Darren ‘Cozy’ Powell with Elizabeth Lloyd, and Yours Truly (Rob Hoole) with my wife Linda. Former MCD officer Paul Guiver was aso present but he needs to renew his MCDOA membership.

Veteran CDs in attendance included Eamon ‘Ginge’ Fullen QGM (who organised the event), Mike O’Meara (Chair of the HDS) & his wife Kathleen, John Dadd (Head volunteer guide at the HDS Museum) with his wife Christine Dadd, Rob & Linda Hoole, Paul Fox & Ingred Lane, Steve & Lynsey Booker, Ship’ Diver Kev Cribb + 1, Steve Gould, Dudley ‘Wooly’ Woolnough, Cris Ballinger, Clive ‘Taff’ Thomas, David ‘Jimmy’ Bond, Lee Murphy and Daren Bailey.

Acompanying civilians included Kevin Casey (Vice Chair of the HDS, Museum Director and Fundraising Officer for The Diving Museum) with his wife Hazel, Ann Bevan of the HDS, Steve Warren, Rosemary ‘Roz’ Lunn (Defence Diving Standards Team Senior Diving Standards Inspector), Mike Brundell, Charlie Fittus and Tim Benson.

I took these photos, featuring several of the above, in the infamous Horseshoe (known to generations of sailors as ‘The Donkey’s Flip-Flop’), The Angry Friar, and Latinos in Casemates Square on the day before the unveiling.

The unveiling ceremony took place on the sunny morning of Saturday 19 September at Rosia Bay where the UWWP was based during the war. It was marvellous to see members of the current Gibraltar Diving Element as well as several other serving divers and others who contrived to be in the area including Commodore Tim Davey and his wife Caroline, Cdr David Starkey, Lt Cdr Daren ‘Cozy’ Powell & Elizabeth Lloyd, WO(D) Garth Spence, WO Toby Jones, CPO(D) James ‘Waggy’ Waghorn and his wife Ayca, CPO(D) James ‘Robbie’ Roberts, CPO(D) Holland, PO(D) Parker, PO(D) Toby Jones, LS(D) Kenwick, LS(D) Foxwell, LS(D) McHardy, AB(D) McClung, AB(D) Reed, AB(D) Alexander and Jack Squire (corrections welcome),

This was Yours Truly with Doug Pitt and members of the current CD element in Gibraltar. Doug is one of the 25 family members of UWWP divers tracked down by Ginge. His father and uncle were Petty Officers, one of whom served in the UWWP. I had met him previously because he was staying at the same hotel as us.

There was considerable local media interest and interviews were given by Yours Truly, Mike O’Meara and Tim Davey. This was HDS Chairman Mike O’Meara waxing lyrical.

Ann Bevan, wife of the late Dr John Bevan, Royal Naval Scientific Service world record-breaking diver and founder of the HDS and its museum. acted as the Mistress of Ceremonies and explained the background of the plaque’s inception before handing over to Dr John Cortes, Gibraltar’s Heritage Minister, for his historical observations about the UWWP and his appreciation of the occasion.

HDS Chairman Mike O’Meara described the UWWP’s formation and work before MCD officer Capt Al Nekrews CBE QGM reiterated the significance of the UWWP and unveiled the blue plaque. Like everyone else, he was glowing in his praise of Ginge Fullen for planning and executing such a historically significant occasion.

There then followed a photo session wth the plaque. The most important attendees, of course, were the family members of the UWWP divers This is a list of them with original members's’ names in brackets. Sons and daughters are in bold; others are husbands, wives and grandchildren. The wife of Robert Amey is still with us but was too infirm to travel.

Andrew and Maria Bailey (BAILEY)

Brenda Neild (THORPE)
Sue Webb

Judith Anderson (MORGAN)
Bob Anderton
Sarah Anderson-Kirby
Oliver Anderson-Kirby
Ben Anderson-Kirby
Jane Goldsack
Emily Goldsack

Anne Lovell (THOMAS)
Jennifer Lovell
Kate Stacey

David and Sharon Bell (BELL)
Graham and Taylor Bell (BELL)

Kim Amey (AMEY)
Liz Bulley (AMEY)
Shaun Bulley
Mark Browne

Doug Pitt (PITT)

After the unveiling ceremony, attendees were hosted by Marc Holland, the Deputy Governor of Gibraltar, at a reception in the spacious grounds of The Convent which is used as the Governor’s Residence. He apologised for the absence of Lt Gen Sir Ben Bathurst, the Governor, at a climate conference.

There followed a series of speeches and presentations. As before, Ann Bevan of the HDS set the scene and provided the introductions.

The first to speak was Deputy Governor Marc Holland who gave everyone a warm welcome and emphasised the significance of the occasion.

Presentations of hip flasks, engraved with their fathers’ names, were then made to the sons and daughters of UWWP members, starting with Andrew Bailey MBE, son of Lt Cdr Bill Bailey CBE GM & Bar DSC RNVR, the team’s founder and first OIC. they were funded by Al Nekrews, Mike O’Meara and Ginge Fullen.

A group photo was then taken of the UWWP members’ families.

Capt Al Nekrews CBE QGM then presented the current members of the Gibraltar Clearance Diving Element with a framed memento of their UWWP forebears.

After a few words by Cdre Tim Davey, Commander British Forces Gibraltar, Andrew Bailey MBE, son of Lt Cdr Bill Bailey CBE GM & Bar DSC who founded and commanded the UWWP from February 1942 until October 1943, a month after the capitulation of Italy, spoke on behalf of the families and expressed their appreciation.

Media coverage of the unveiling ceremony was gratifying with BFBS posting these interviews with Yours Truly, Mike O’Meara, Tim Davry, Andrew Bailey and Dr Marc Cortes, the Heritage Secretary, on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CANzjX8zh/

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FecycD8j5/

These interviews were broadcast by the Gibraltar Broadcasting Company.

This article was published in the Gibraltar Chronicle on Tuesday 22 September:

This event had taken Ginge Fullen two years to plan and, as with the blue plaque unveilings in Brixham and Appledore last year, all of us owe him a great debt for his passion, energy, diligence, persistence and organisational skills. Thank you, Ginge.

Postscript: Ginge has asked me to add these words:

“Many family members were moved to tears at the unveiling and the reception after being presented with hip flasks engraved with their father’s name. They realised their fathers and grandfathers did something special and, as I mention in my chronicle, they might as well been volunteering to became heroes. It gives me great pride to finally have the UWWP recognised in Gibraltar and it’s been a privilege to do so.”

Blue Plaque for UWWP Divers Unveiled in Gibraltar

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