Here is a group which I really like. John Ormandy was a Greaser (Oiler) born in Liverpool in 1883 he went to sea c.1897 (aged 14) after running away to sea with his brother. Serving through the Great War 1914/18 aboard Admiralty fleet oilers he served across the globe from the China Station, the South Atlantic and in Home and Mediterranean waters wherever the fleet was, during this time a ship (as yet unidentified) was torpedoed beneath him and he spent several days in an open boat. John Ormandy remained at sea between the wars serving mainly aboard Cunard/White Star liners and just a couple of days into the Second World War he was one of the crew fortunate to survive the loss of the "Bosnia" when she was torpedoed by Gunther Prien's U47 on 5 Sep 1939.
He returned to the sea again and in March 1941 was serving aboard the "Andalusian" when she was torpedoed and sunk by another ace boat U106. Again John Ormandy survived and was rescued. His bravery and example was finally recognised on 25 June 1947 when in the London Gazette an award of the B.E.M. was announced. John Ormandy was still serving at sea in 1950, aged 67, when he died after an accident in the engine room of the "Caroline M" 29 Dec 1950.
An outstanding man, one of many seamen who had a similar record of service.
He returned to the sea again and in March 1941 was serving aboard the "Andalusian" when she was torpedoed and sunk by another ace boat U106. Again John Ormandy survived and was rescued. His bravery and example was finally recognised on 25 June 1947 when in the London Gazette an award of the B.E.M. was announced. John Ormandy was still serving at sea in 1950, aged 67, when he died after an accident in the engine room of the "Caroline M" 29 Dec 1950.
An outstanding man, one of many seamen who had a similar record of service.
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