Charles Walker, who was awarded the Albert Medal for bravery in saving the life of a seaman in Operation Pedestal, the Santa Marija convoy, died yesterday week aged 97.
On 10 August, 1942 a convoy of 14 ships under a heavy naval and RAF escort passed through the straits of Gibraltar bound for Malta. Codenamed Operation Pedestal, the convoy was the most important one to set sail for Malta during the war, and carried vital supplies to the besieged island, where stocks, especially of oil and ammunition, were running perilously low.
The next day, after an Italian submarine reported an initial sighting, the convoy was attacked by German bombers and torpedo planes. On the afternoon of the 12th, successive waves of Axis aircraft attacked the convoy, sinking one of the merchant vessels and causing considerable damage to the escort force.
The same evening, as the convoy entered the Skerki channel, it came under a combined submarine and aerial assault, resulting in heavy losses. This was the prelude to an attack by Italian E-boats in the middle of the night. Five more ships were sunk.
On 13 August, while the convoy was 20 miles south of Pantelleria and some 200 miles west of Malta, the merchant vessel Waimarama was hit by bombs fore and aft and burst into flames. An escorting destroyer, the Ledbury (Lieutenant-Commander Roger Hill, Royal Navy), went in very close, lowered her whaler and picked up survivors from the sea.
Walker, a petty officer cook on Ledbury, saw a man floundering on his own and, despite the potential for further explosions, dived over the side, swimming out amid the flames. He did so despite knowing that if Ledbury came under renewed attack she would be forced to turn away and leave behind both himself and the man he was attempting to rescue. But the destroyer did not turn away; both men were safely picked up.
Others were not so lucky, and Walker subsequently paid tribute to the gallantry of an unknown officer in the Merchant Navy who was clinging to the ratlines of a lifeboat with his one hand, his other arm having been blown off. He refused to be hauled into the boat, which was already dangerously overloaded. A drowning shipmate nearby caught his attention. He swam away to help him and was never seen again.
Walker was invested with the Albert Medal by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 13 August, 1943. When the AM was revoked by Royal Warrant, he exchanged his medal for the GC, the investiture taking place on 13 March, 1973.
Charles Henry Walker was born at Hartlepool, Cleveland, on 9 March, 1914 and was educated locally. He enlisted with the Royal Navy in 1932 and served on a wide variety of warships, including the battleship Hood.
After leaving the Navy, Walker worked for a number of years as a postman in Portsmouth. He retired to Portsmouth in 1954 and enjoyed a regular game of bowls.
Walker was a founder member of the Albert Medal Association. His Albert Medal was presented to the Victory Museum at Portsmouth.
He was also a dedicated member of the Victoria Cross and George Cross association, where he was a much loved character, and attended reunions as recently as last year.
Charles Walker married, in 1936, Beatrice Martin. They had one son and three daughters.
For his part in Operation Pedestal Roger Hill was awarded the DSO.
In retirement Roger Hill settled in New Zealand, where he died aged 91, on 5 May, 2001. On 27 September, 2002, at a ceremony attended by members of his family and former shipmates, his ashes were scattered off Grand Harbour, Valetta.