Background
Southwell was born on 21 March 1913 and enlisted into the Royal Navy in 1939.
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Bennett Southwell
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Career
He was awarded a posthumous. He was called up for training on 8 June 1940 and proceeded to HMS Ganges. He was posted to HMS Vernon, as part of the Land Mine Disposal Section responsible for bomb and mine clearance work.
Southwell was part of a team tackling an unexploded parachute mine on the 17 October 1940 during the height of the blitz in Hoxton in the East End of London.
The street was deserted and the 1,500 pounds (680 kg) mine could be seen dangling from its parachute, wrapped round the chimney of a terraced house. The pair had to climb through a window into the bedroom, as the mine was blocking the door wedged between a bedstead and the collapsing chimney.
Easton set about defusing the mine with Southwell passing him tools through the window. They were working in this way when the rest of the chimney collapsed, setting off the fuse which began to tick.
They ran for cover in a nearby air raid shelter but the mine exploded, destroying six surrounding streets and killing Southwell instantly.
Such was the damage that his body was undiscovered for a further six weeks. Southwell"s former employer, Coras Hoisery, had a duplicate made and this was presented to the family in 1948. In 2003 the original medal appeared for sale at Dix Noonan Auctioneers.
lieutenant was, at that time, in the Richard Magor Collection.
The medal was then purchased from the Magor Collection and is now with the family of Southwell.
Achievements
Membership
A member of Southwell"s family informed the police and the sale was stopped.
