ROBERTS, Peter Scawen Watkinson
Lieutenant. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 9th June 1942.
VC Medal held Privately.
Born on 28th July 1917 at Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire.
Died on 8th December 1979 at Newton Ferrers, Devon.
Memorial at Holy Cross Churchyard. Cremated at Efford, Plymouth, Devon.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 16th February 1942, HM Submarine Thrasher attacked and sank, in daylight, a supply ship under heavy escort. She was immediately attacked by aircraft and bombs and depth charges from the escorts. On surfacing, after dark, the submarine began to roll and it was discovered that two unexploded bombs were in the gun casing. Lieutenant Roberts and Petty Officer Gould * immediately volunteered to remove them. They were of an unknown type. The removed the first bomb, wrapped it in sacking and manhandled it to the bows, where they dropped it overboard. To reach the second bomb they had to go through the casing, it being so low that they had to lie flat, at full length, in order to move inside it. In complete darkness, they pushed and pulled the bomb for around 20 feet or so before it could be lowered over the side. This act of courage was made more difficult, because HM Submarine Thrasher's whereabouts were known to the enemy. Had the submarine been attacked, it would have dived and the two men would have been drowned.