Richard Been Stannard
| Richard Been Stannard | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 21 August 1902 Blyth, Northumberland |
| Died | 22 July 1977 Sydney, Australia |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Years of service | 1929-1954 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held |
HMT Arab HMS Stanley HMS Ramsey HMS Vimy HMS Peacock |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order Reserve Decoration Norwegian War Cross with Sword Mentioned in Despatches (twice) |
Captain Richard Been Stannard VC DSO RD RNR (21 August 1902 – 22 July 1977) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Stannard was awarded the first RNR VC of the Second World War.
He was 37 years old, and a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
From 28 April to 2 May 1940 at Namsos, Norway, HMT Arab survived 31 bombing attacks in five days. On one occasion during this period Lieutenant Stannard and two of his crew tackled for two hours a fire on the jetty caused by a bomb igniting ammunition. Part of the jetty was saved, which proved invaluable at the subsequent evacuation. Later feats included the destruction of an enemy bomber whose pilot, thinking that he had HMT Arab at his mercy, ordered that she be steered into captivity.
Admiralty, Whitehall, 16th August, 1940.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the grant of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, R.N.R., H.M.S. Arab, for outstanding valour and signal devotion to duty at Namsos. When enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of hand grenades on Namsos wharf, with no shore water supply available, Lieutenant Stannard ran Arab's bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending all but two of his crew aft, he then endeavoured for two hours to extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in this work till he had to give up the attempt as hopeless.
After helping other ships against air attacks, he placed his own damaged vessel under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and those of two other trawlers, and established an armed camp. Here those off duty could rest while he attacked enemy aircraft which approached by day, and kept anti-submarine watch during the night.
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