Blue plaques for ‘P’ Party and LCOCU divers unveiled at Brixham and Appledore
12 May 2025 - 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 week for having organised the installation and unveiling of blue plaques at Brixham and Appledore commemorating, respectively, the ‘P’ Party divers who cleared the ports and harbours of newly liberated Europe during and after the Second World War, and the LCOCU (Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units) which cleared the beaches of mines and obstacles during the Normandy landings in 1944 (see article for 5 Feb 2025). Both plaques were funded by a couple of families of the ‘P’ Party Divers and LCOCU frogmen.
Ginge started his chronicle about the ‘P’ Parties after meeting ex-’P’ Party diver John Payne BEM in 2021 (see articles for 5 Aug 2021 and 3 Sep 2021 on the MCDOA’s old website and 17 Apr 2023 on this website); then a year or so later he visited Brixham to see where they trained and also to meet Joan Longhurst whom he had tracked down after posting a question in a local historical Facebook group. He went to see the museum there and ask if they had anything on the ‘P’ Party divers who trained here during the war but, no, they had never heard of them. That was the start of the unveiling of a blue plaque commemorating the ‘P’ Party divers at Brixham on 8 May and subsequently the unveiling of another blue plaque commemorating the LCOCU divers on the 9th.
Unveiling of ‘P’ Party Blue Plaque at Brixham
Brixham was the location of HMS VERNON(D) from 27 October 1944 to 30 November 1945. The ‘D’ stood for nearby Dartmouth where the unit’s accounts were held.
On the evening of Wednesday 7 May 2025, invited guests, including family members of ‘P’ Party divers, gathered at the Heritage Museum in Brixham for a presentation and buffet. Events were led by Holly Jarrett, the curator of the museum, and Ann Bevan (second left), one of the main forces behind the Historical Diving Society’s museum at Stokes Bay, founded by her late husband Dr John Bevan. Also in attendance was Andrew Bailey (third left), son of Lt Cdr Bill Bailey CBE DSC GM* RNVR, the OIC of the Underwater Working Party in Gibraltar who performed most of the deeds inaccurately attributed to Cdr Lionel ‘Buster Crabb GM RNVR in the film The Silent Enemy which portrayed the underwater battle against the Italian charioteer frogmen attacking shipping in the bay. Ann Bevan’s late husband John wrote the definitive Operation Tadpole setting the record straight, and Crabbgate, the most meticulously researched book about Crabb and his likely fate.
Presentations were delivered by Holly Jarrett, Rob Hoole and Ginge Fullen among others.
The Diving Museum had lent several artefacts to the Brixham Heritage Museum including the last known example of a ‘P’ Party diving dress.
At 0900 on the morning of Thursday 8 May (VE Day), dignitaries, ‘P’ Party divers’ family members and serving and ex-Clearance Divers gathered at Brixham Lifeboat station on the spot where the ‘P’ Party divers had mustered during the Second World War (see articles for 14 Dec 16 and 25 Oct 19 in the MCDOA’s old website) after the departure of the LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks) for the Normandy landings. The curved brick wall in the foreground still exists.
One of the family members present was Alicia Connolly, daughter of the late ‘P’ Party diver Mike Connolly (see second entry for 4 Mar 10 and entry for 7 Jun 12 on the MCDOA’s old website). After speeches by the Heritage Museum’s curator Holly, local MP Caroline Voaden and His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant Robin Barlow DL, the blue plaque commemorating the ‘P’ Party divers was unveiled by Capt Al Nekrews CBE QGM RN, a qualified Minewarfare & Clearance Diving Officer.
The definite star of the show was Joan Longhurst, the 101 year-old widow of frogman Peter Longhurst of ‘P’ Party 1571. She had a twinkle in her eye and a wicked sense of humour.
Following the unveiling, attendees reconvened at the Heritage Museum in the centre of Brixham for more presentations and a welcome tot with which to toast the ‘P’ Party divers. Speakers included Ann Bevan, Andrew Bailey, Ginge Fullen and Al Nekrews who proposed a toast to the ‘P’ Party divers, enjoyed very much by Joan Longhurst. Paul Guiver also gave an update on the project to erect the Military Diver Memorial at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire. This is expected to be unveiled in May next year. Paul also distributed brooches commemorating the naval divers on whose shoulders more recent divers have stood.
Underwater interment of Boyd Salmon’s ashes
At 1500 on the afternoon of Thursday 8 October, Al Nekrews and Ginge Fullen slipped into the water adjacent to the blue plaque to lay a container containing the ashes of the late Boyd Salmon, a WWII veteran RNVR bomb & mine disposal officer who crossed the bar on Monday 16 December last year at the age of 100 (see articles for 28 Jun 2024 and 30 Dec 2024 on the MCDOA’s newer website). Their act was witnessed by Boyd’s daughters Nicola and Anita.
Former Chief Diver Andy Pearce mustered the "P" Party families - over 80 years since they last mustered - and also supervised Boyd Salmon’s last dive and explained the importance of the 5 Bells on the float, etc., to the family.
On the evening of Thursday 8 May, some of those who participated in the day’s events occupied one of the tables at the VE Day Dinner Dance organised by the local branch of the Royal British Legion at the Berry Head Hotel in Brixham.
The following family members of veteran WWII divers were present at Brixham:
Sheila; daughter and Richard and Robin, grandsons of John Payne BEM. John was one of the very first volunteers for the P Parties in 1943 at the age of 18 and served with NP 1571 until the end of the war.
Andrew; son of Elec Lt Bill Bailey CBE DSC GM* RNVR. Bill trained as a Render Mines Safe Officer by the age of 22. Formed the Under Water Working Party in Gibraltar who cleared limpet mines and bombs placed by Italian frogmen on Allied shipping and was the Officer in Charge of ‘P’ Party 1574.
Alicia; daughter of Mike Connoly. Mike served with several ‘P’ Parties and dived in many ports arounds the continent. He worked as a commercial diver after the war.
Nicola and Anita; daughters of Sub Lt Boyd Salmon RNVR. Boyd was part of HMS VERNON’s Enemy Mining Section and a ‘P’ Party member. He was severely injured when he was blown up by a mine in 1945.
Jonathan; son of Eric ‘Wings’ Murray. Eric served with NP 1571, 2443 and the little-known Palestinian ‘P’ Party.
Brian and Phil: sons and grandson Max of Jim Leslie BEM. Jim served with P Party 1572 and married local Brixham girl Margaret Soper.
Martin: son and Dan and Lewis, grandson of; Leonard ‘Nobby’ Clark. Nobby served towards the end of the war on NP 2443 that was used to clear the ports, harbours and canals around the UK.
Jonathan; grandson of Kenneth Porter who served on NP 1575 as well as the Atlantic convoys.
Penny: daughter of Thomas Mergler BEM MiD who served on NP 1573 and 2443.
Tass; daughter and Annie and Nicky; granddaughters of Lt Robert Billington DSC* RNVR. Robert was Officer in Command of LCOCU 1 (Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units) (Pronounced Lock-Yew) frogmen that landed on D-Day to clear the beach of obstacles. This was another remarkable group of Royal Navy divers who served during WWII.
Brenda; daughter, and Steph great grandaughter of Arthur Thorpe BEM. Arthur was Chief of the Under Water Working Party in Gibraltar with Bill Bailey. This was another remarkable group of Royal Navy divers who served during WWII.
Lastly: Joan; wife and John, son of Peter Longhurst. Peter was one of the originals and served on NP 1571 and 1572. He suffered a bad diving incident but stayed with the ‘P’ Parties as a maintainer. He married local Brixham girl Joan (Joan says she loved to dance and, despite Peter having two left feet, she still married him!)
Unveiling of ‘P’ Party Blue Plaque at Appledore
On Friday 9 May, attendees enjoyed a buffet lunch at the Beaver Inn in Appledore before mustering at the lifeboat station for the unveiling of a blue plaque commemorating the LCOCU (Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Units) which cleared the underwater obstacles on the beaches during the Normandy landings in June 1944. An Bevan from the HDS museum at Stokes Bay read a list of LCOCU family members present.
As a matter of interest, the Ministry of Defence announced in July 2022 that Harland & Wolff (Appledore) had been awarded a £55 million contract to return the former HMS QUORN to service in the Lithuanian Navy which already operates two former RN Hunt-class MCMVs: LNS SKALVIS (ex-HMS COTTESMORE) and LNS KURSIS (ex-HMS DULVERTON). The former HMS QUORN is easily visible from the town foreshore and looks in a sorry state.
As on the previous day in Brixham, the unveiling was performed by Capt Al Nekruse CBE QGM RN with the obligatory tot drunk afterwards. Ann Bevan of the HDS Diving Museum spoke a few words first.
That evening, some of the surviving gatherers enjoyed a convivial farewell meal in the nearby Beaver Inn.
The following veteran WWII divers were represented by family members at Appledore:
Chief Douglas Reid
One of the original Boom Commandos, the forerunners of the LCOCUs. Ten of these men were involved in the retaking of Sicily in July and August 1943 and subsequently sent to HMS APLLEDORE to train Beach Commando units and later the LCOCU frogmen. Douglas was in charge of the training of divers at Appledore, Devon in 1944. In all, he supervised 20,000 dives. He was represented at Appledore by his granddaughter Jackie.
Lieutenant Robert Edward Billington DSC* RNVR
Robert Billington was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallant service in the Normandy landings, and a Bar to the DSC for similar service in the landings in the South of France whilst in command of LCOC Unit 1 and in overall charge of all four LCOC Units of Force “J”.
He was represented at Appledore by his daughters Tass and Anne and family.
Fred “Porky” Henson
Porky was one of the original ‘Dirty Dozen’. The LCOCUs were so short of numbers that in January 1944 they approached the Navy Detention Centre in Portsmouth offering inmates their freedom if they volunteered for a secret mission. Porky and a dozen or so more volunteered. Porky distinguished himself as part of the LCOCU on JUNO Beach.
He was represented at Appledore by his son Terry and family.
Lt Harold Hargreaves DSC RNVR
Harold Hargreaves was in charge of LCOCU 3 which landed on Gold Beach. His team was one of the first to land on the beach that day ahead of the scheduled H-Hour + 20 minute time slot. Lt Hargreaves was wounded in the shoulder but carried on.
He was represented at Appledore by son Chris
CSM Donald James Robert Morss MiD RM
Donald Morss was in charge of LCOCU 8 on Queen Sector on Sword Beach. He and his unit returned to the United Kingdom on 8 June. He saw a lot more action after D-Day in the push into Germany.
He was represented at Appledore by his daughter Boo.
Francis Robert William Box
After D-Day, Francis was part of LCOCU 17 which saw service in the far East where he was shot in the leg. After his death, photographs were found in his wallet of his time there and in Singapore. His family remember him saying that the prisoners of war there was the worst sight he had ever seen.
He was represented at Appledore by his daughter Pam and family.
Harry Nickson
Was a Royal Marine attached to LCOCU 11.
He was represented at Appledore by his son David and family.
Ginge has acknowledged the help of the Torbay Civic Society, Holly at the Brixham Heritage Museum, Amanda at the North Devon Maritime Museum in Appledore and Ann at the Diving Museum in Stokes Bay near Gosport but most of the credit for all the research, detective work, correspondence and organisation surely belongs to him. BZ Ginge!
Addendum
Ginge has asked me to add these words:
“It has been a wonderful journey collecting the stories of both the ‘P’ Party divers and LCOCU frogmen and one of my greatest honours and privileges taking the ashes down with Al of the last known P Party diver Boyd Salmon. RIP - forever at Brixham.
I have a couple of researchers I use (and pay for) but I feel it’s important to try and find this generation of WW2 families which do hold first hand stories of their fathers and also amazing albums. And just as important is to do it now whilst I still have the energy and passion.
A Facebook page has been set up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/712207371491031 for the group to share their photos and memories. We may even discover yet more Frogmen along the way!
Watch this space. The job of recording the remarkable history of RN diving is not yet over and hopefully there might be another blue plaque or two in the future.”