Malcolm David Wanklyn

David Wanklyn was the first submarine officer to win the Victoria Cross during World War Two. It was awarded for an incident during his seventh patrol when, on 24th May 1941.


Friedrich has mentioned the HMS Upholder a couple of times, I see, but here´s the captain of the boat.


The King has been Graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross for great valour and resolution in command of His Majesty's Submarine Upholder to Lieutenant Commander Malcolm David Wanklyn, DSO, Royal Navy.

On the evening of 24th May, 1941, whilst on patrol off the coast of Sicily, Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn, in command of His Majesty's Submarine Upholder, sighted a southbound enemy troop convoy, strongly escorted by Destroyers. The failing light was such that observation by periscope could not be relied on but a surface attack would have been easily seen. Upholder's listening gear was out of action. In spite of these severe handicaps Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn decided to press home his attack at short range. He quickly steered his craft into a favourable position and closed in so as to make sure of his target. By this time the whereabouts of the escorting Destroyers could not be made out. Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn, while fully aware of the risk of being rammed by one of the escorts, continued to press on towards the enemy troopships. As he was about to fire, one of the enemy Destroyers suddenly appeared out of the darkness at high speed, and he only just avoided being rammed. As soon as he was clear, he brought his periscope sights on and fired torpedoes, which sank a large troop ship. The enemy Destroyers at once made a strong counterattack and during the next twenty minutes dropped thirty-seven depth-charges near Upholder. The failure of his listening devices made it much harder for him to get away, but with the greatest courage, coolness and skill he brought Upholder clear of the enemy and safe back to harbour. Before this outstanding attack, and since being appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn has torpedoed a tanker and a merchant vessel. He has continued to show the utmost bravery in the presence of the enemy. He has carried out his attacks on enemy vessels with skill and relentless determination, he has also sunk one destroyer, one U-boat, two troop-transports of 19,500 tons each, one tanker and three supply ships. He has besides probably destroyed by torpedoes one cruiser and one destroyer, and possibly hit another cruiser.



LtCdr David Wanklyn, of HMS Upholder, receiving the congratulations of his First Lieutenant on his award of the Victoria Cross.



Lt Cdr Wanklyn (centre) with some of Upholder's crew - Malta 1942.


Submarine Service VC winners:

http://www.submariners.co.uk/VC_Winners/


http://web.ukonline.co.uk/chalcraft/sm/upholder.html


http://www.submariners.co.uk/VC_Winners/wanklyn.htm

 

Interesting Kai. I have a lecturer by that name. Wonder if he is a relation.

 

Another North Africa VC recipient ( the first to be awarded to an airman in the Mediterranean since the outbreak of the war ).

From November to December 1942 in North Africa, Wing Commander Malcolm commanded a squadron of light bombers. Throughout his service in that sector his skill and daring were of the highest order. He led two attacks on Bizerta airfield, pressing his attacks to effective conclusion and on 4 December he led an attack on an enemy fighter airfield near Chougui, Tunisia. On reaching the target, however, and starting the attack, the squadron was intercepted by an overwhelming force of enemy fighters from 11 Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 2. One by one his bombers were shot down, until he himself was shot down in flames.

Hugh Gordon Malcolm (1917 - 1942) - Find A Grave Memorial

Hugh Gordon Malcolm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wg. Cmdr. Hugh Gordon Malcolm

 

Mediterranean VC awarded recipients

Lieutenant Commander Malcolm David Wanklyn VC, DSO & Two Bars (28 June 1911 – missing in action 14 April 1942) was a Second World War British Royal Navy submarine ace and one of the most successful submariners in the Western Allied navies. Wanklyn and his crew sank 16 enemy vessels.

During 15 months of operations, Wanklyn led Upholder on 27 patrols and sank 11 Axis merchant and troopships while damaging four more. During his combat career he fought many actions with Regia Marina (Italian Navy) warships. He sank one destroyer and one minesweeper, and damaged a light cruiser. In a rare achievement, he also sank three Italian submarines. It amounted to 128,353 tons of enemy shipping.[2] For the sinking of the heavily defended enemy transport SS Conte Rosso without working Asdic, he received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be bestowed upon personnel in the British and Commonwealth forces.

David Wanklyn



So it was awarded posthumously however.

Wanklyn, Malcolm David - TracesOfWar.com

Victoria Cross (VC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-Commander
Unit:
Royal Navy
Awarded on:
March 3rd, 1943