Anthony Cecil Capel Miers

Commander, Royal Navy

VC
Register No.
865 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Commander all Commanders →
Unit
Royal Navy (register: HMS Torbay) all HMS Torbay VCs →
Date of action
4–5 March 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
Conflict / campaign
Second World War
London Gazette
7th July 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
Born
11th November, 1906 at Birchwood, Inverness, Scotland
Died
30th June, 1985 at Inverness, Scotland
Memorial / grave
not known

Digest of citation

Commander Miers, in command of HM Submarine Torbay, knowing full well the hazards involved, followed an enemy convoy into the harbour at Corfu. Inside the harbour, his batteries had to be rechar0000ged on the surface on a bright moonlit night, within the range of the enemy guns. Unable to detect the enemy in the darkness, he waited several hours until he was able to attack in full daylight. After his torpedoes had been released he came under a very heavy counter attack, having to withdraw along a narrow channel being hunted by anti-submarine craft and air patrols. The enemy, the Italians, aware that the only way the Torbay could escape was through this long narrow channel searcxhwed for her. She survived many depth charge attacks before she managed to reach the Aegean Sea and safety

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

MIERS, Anthony Cecil Capel. (reg No. 865).

Commander. Royal Navy.

London Gazetted on 7th July 1942.

Born on 11th November, 1906 at Birchwood, Inverness, Scotland.

Died on 30th June, 1985 at Inverness, Scotland.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: Commander Miers, in command of HM Submarine Torbay, knowing full well the hazards involved, followed an enemy convoy into the harbour at Corfu. Inside the harbour, his batteries had to be rechar0000ged on the surface on a bright moonlit night, within the range of the enemy guns. Unable to detect the enemy in the darkness, he waited several hours until he was able to attack in full daylight. After his torpedoes had been released he came under a very heavy counter attack, having to withdraw along a narrow channel being hunted by anti-submarine craft and air patrols. The enemy, the Italians, aware that the only way the Torbay could escape was through this long narrow channel searcxhwed for her. She survived many depth charge attacks before she managed to reach the Aegean Sea and safety.

Additional information:. Rear Admiral Sir Anthony Miers was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and he also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Bar The crew of the Torbay were recommended for decorations. The investitures were to be made at two different ceremonies. One for the officers and a separate one for the ratings. Rear Admiral Sir Anthony Miers had indicated that unless all of his men were not at the same Investiture he would refuse the Victoria Cross. A combined ceremony on 20th July 1942, Commander Miers was invested with the VC, three of his officers were decorated with DSO and DSC and 24 ratings receive DSM (Source of this information comes from John Laffin's "British VC's World War 2" Sutton Publishing Ltd.)

Additional information

Rear Admiral Sir Anthony Miers was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and he also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Bar The crew of the Torbay were recommended for decorations. The investitures were to be made at two different ceremonies. One for the officers and a separate one for the ratings. Rear Admiral Sir Anthony Miers had indicated that unless all of his men were not at the same Investiture he would refuse the Victoria Cross. A combined ceremony on 20th July 1942, Commander Miers was invested with the VC, three of his officers were decorated with DSO and DSC and 24 ratings receive DSM (Source of this information comes from John Laffin's "British VC's World War 2" Sutton Publishing Ltd.)

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: not known

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