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A full account of the action is to be found in Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork’s Shot Down and in the Drink, R.A.F. and
Commonwealth Aircrews Saved from the Sea 1939-45, in which it is revealed that Dargue was plucked from the water by Flight
Lieutenant D. R. “Don” Morrison, D.F.C., D.F.M., No 401 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, himself having been picked up by H.S.L. 177 after
being downed earlier that day. Pitchfork takes up the story:
‘Morrison noticed a semi-conscious seaman drifting away. He immediately dived into the sea and burning oil to reach the badly
injured man, bringing him alongside the launch where he was recovered on board. He was Leading Aircraftman Albert Dargue, the
medical orderly of H.S.L. 122, which had been attacked and set on fire by German fighters. Despite being badly hurt himself, Dargue
tended the seriously wounded until H.S.L. 123 pulled alongside. Only four men were left alive and Dargue dragged the other three
survivors on deck, but just as they were about to be transferred, H.S.L. 123 also came under attack and was severely damaged. As the
launch caught fire, the master gave the order to abandon ship. Dargue inflated the Mae Wests of the three injured men and pushed
them overboard before he jumped. Exhausted and weak from his wound, he could do little to help himself until Morrison rescued him.
Once H.S.L. 177 had picked up the 14 survivors the master headed for Newhaven at full speed, where the wounded were quickly
evacuated to hospital. Morrison returned to his squadron and was soon back on duty. Following the Dieppe operation there were a
number of gallantry awards for the men of the R.A.F’s high speed launches, including an M.B.E. to Conway and a B.E.M. to the brave L.
A.C. Albert Dargue.
Morrison wrote a detailed report of his experiences but made no mention of his own courageous part. He was loud in his praise for the
men who manned the R.A.F. rescue launches and concluded his report: ‘There can be no question as to the bravery of these men of the
Air Sea Rescue Service who were often working within sight of the French coast. For myself, I would rather meet a FW 190 head-on in
my Spitfire than meet one from a rescue launch.’ ’
Pitchfork continues:
‘There were many lessons to be learnt from the Dieppe raid, in particular the lack of armour plate protection for the gunners on rescue
launches operating in the combat area. There was also a clear need for more capable armament, and the Admiralty agreed to supply 15
Oerlikon guns for the R.A.F’s launches at Dover and Newhaven. During October approval was given for 32 launches based at the east
and south coast units to be provided with one 20-mm. Oerlikon and four .303 Vickers guns on twin pedestal mountings. It was also
agreed that armour plating should be provided for the more vulnerable areas of the launches.’
Assuming Dargue had been a regular member of H.S.L. 122 since his arrival at No. 27 A.S.R. Dover, he would have been the veteran
of numerous rescue operations in the interim, the unit’s O.R.B. revealing another encounter with enemy aircraft on 16 April 1942,
when 122 was attacked by a pair of 109s off Folkestone - ‘No casualties but bullet hole damage to hull’ (the unit’s O.R.B. refers).
Sold with the recipient’s original wartime photograph album, containing some rare and impressive images of A.S.R. craft and personnel
(16 in total), the outer cover with R.A.F. cap badge and the inside cover ink inscribed, ‘L.A.C. A. Dargue, R.A.F.’, together with a copy
of Air Sea Rescue (H.M.S.O., 1942) and one or two related newspaper cuttings.
662
A rare and impressive Palestine 1947 operations B.E.M. awarded to Gunner F. D. Keillor, Royal Artillery, for great
gallantry in responding to a terrorist attack in Haifa - severely wounded by two ‘through and through’ revolver shots
fired at close range, and in great pain, he nonetheless drove his wounded comrades in a jeep to the nearest hospital
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL, (Military) G.VI.R., 2nd issue (14148108 Gnr. Frederick D. Keillor, R.A.), minor official correction to
surname, nearly extremely fine £800-1000
B.E.M. London Gazette 2 July 1948:
‘In recognition of gallant conduct in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner.’
The original recommendation states:
‘On 12 December 1947, at about 1300 hours, Gunner Keillor was driving a jeep along Herzl Street, Haifa, proceeding north in the
direction of Acre. An officer, together with two other gunners who were acting as escorts to the party, were also travelling in the
vehicle. Opposite the New Cinema, the jeep was stopped in a small traffic jam. At this moment two or three dissidents, believed to be
Jews, came out of a side turning and, at point blank range, fired at them with revolvers. All were hit several times and seriously
wounded; one of the escort later died after admission to hospital. Gunner Keillor received a through and through gun shot wound of
the right upper arm and a through and through gun shot wound of the left shoulder. Despite the severity of his wounds, which had the
effect of almost completely paralysing his arms, and of causing him very considerable pain, Gunner Keillor drew his revolver to return
the fire but the attackers, in keeping with their character, had disappeared.
One effect of the firing was completely to clear Herzl Street of all traffic, shoppers and pedestrians. No one, therefore, either Jew or
Arab, came forward to render assistance to the wounded men though some could be seen peering fearfully at them from doorways and
windows. The officer was seriously wounded, having been shot in the stomach, and the two escorts were already unconscious. Gunner
Keillor, realising the necessity of reaching medical assistance as soon as possible, managed to start the engine and get the jeep going.
By this time his right arm had become completely useless and little strength remained in his left. Nonetheless, however, he drove the
jeep to a British Military Hospital, a distance of some two miles, along a route with many turns and steep inclines.
The conduct of this young soldier throughout this incident is deserving of the highest praise. Though severely wounded, he showed that
he had in him the best qualities of the British soldier of courage, determination and devotion to duty.’
Frederick Davidson Keillor was from Angus, Forfar. On the day he won his his B.E.M., Haganah terrorists launched a series of attacks
against Arab and British targets in Haifa and Ramleh, over 20 people being killed and another 30 wounded - two of the former were
British soldiers, and one of them, as cited above, a comrade of Keillor.
663
A post-war B.E.M. group of three awarded to Flight Sergeant R. Heather, Royal Air Force
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL, (Military) E.II.R. (639638 Flt./Sgt. Ronald Heather, R.A.F.); GENERAL SERVICE 1918-621 clasp, Malaya, E.
II.R. (639638 F. Sgt. R. Heather, R.A.F.); ROYAL AIR FORCE L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (639638 F. Sgt. R. Heather, R.A.F.), minor
contact wear, good very fine or better (3) £300-350
B.E.M. London Gazette 1 June 1953.
www.dnw.co.uk
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