Personal information

Bernard Peter de Neumann served in the Merchant Navy from 1933 to 1947 and became a Master Mariner in 1945. He was awarded the George Medal following an attack by German bombers on Tewkesbury off Aberdeen on 1 Mar, 1941. Following the sinking of Tewkesbury in May 1941 he was awarded Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea. However, he was taken prisoner by Vichy French warships after they intercepted the British prize ship Criton en route from Freetown to the UK in June 1941. Bernard was interned in Timbuktu until December 1942. From 1947 to 1953 he was the commander of HMRC Vigilant and then became Harbourmaster in the Port of London. He died in an accident when disembarking the German motor vessel Starmark at Tilbury Docks on 16 Sep, 1972.