Description
British Empire Medal, GVI, Military Issue, P/MX 47415 Edward Winston Kimber, Supply Chief Petty Officer, HMS Frobisher.
Officially engraved: “S.Y. C.P.O. Edward W. Kimber. P/MX. 47415”
Announced in the King’s Birthday Honours Gazette, 8th June 1944.
Invested with the medal on 31st October 1944.
Soon after would add the Royal Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, as CPO of HMS Hornet, on 1st Dec 1945.
His set of service papers have a gap regarding his ship service between 1941-1947, however we know that he was awarded this medal for service on HMS Frobisher, authorised in June 1944.
Just prior to this, HMS Frobisher had seen many escort duties in the Indian Ocean during late 1943 before returning back home in early 1944 to prepare for D-Day (Operation Neptune) in June.
The award would likely be for one of the convoys, such as Convoy CM 45, 14th September 1943.
He would earn his Naval LSGC Medal named to HMS Hornet, not actually a ship but the Coastal Forces Base home to Royal Naval Motor Torpedo and Gun Boats.
Here are a few of their convoys on HMS Frobisher during this period.
“25 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1115FG/25, the troop transport George Washington (American, 25570 GRT, built 1909) departed Bombay for South Africa via the Seychelles. She was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN).
Around 2030EF/26, the destroyers parted company to return to Bombay.
Around 1215D/30, the George Washington and HMS Frobisher arrived at the Seychelles where HMS Frobisher fuelled. They departed around 2015D/30 to continue their passage.
HMS Frobisher parted company with the troopship off Durban and then entered Durban around 0600B/6. The troopship continued on towards Capetown.
One notable event in December 1943, was assisting in the towing of French Light Cruisre Le Triopmhant having taken heavy damage during a cyclone:
“8 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0320F/8, the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Addu Atoll to make rendezvous with the disabled French light cruiser (large destroyer) Le Triomphant which had sustained heavy damage during a cyclone and was currently in tow of the tanker Cedar Mills (American, 10172 GRT, built 1943). At 0530Z/6, their position had been 16°32’S, 82°30’E. On making rendezvous HMS Frobisher is to take over the tow and then proceed to Diego Suarez with the disabled ship. (31)
10 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800F/10, the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) made rendezvous in position 09°40’S, 78°09’E with the disabled French light cruiser (large destroyer) Le Triomphant that was being towed by tanker Cedar Mills (American, 10172 GRT, built 1943). During the day evacuated crew members from the disabled French ship which had been on board the Cedar Mills transferred to HMS Frobisher. Also the tow was transferred and the Cedar Mills parted company to proceed to her own destination.”
HIS LIFE AND SERVICE
Edward Winston Kimber was born in Portsea, St Mary, Hampshire on 29th November 1912. Being baptised there on 12th January 1913.
He would die in the same town many years later during 1983.
The son of Edward Kimber and Clara Elizabeth.
Edward was a “Greenwich School Boy”, destined for the Royal Navy, these boys were educated by the Navy for no cost, as they were sons of serving or former Royal Navy sailors.
As he was turning 16 years old it was time to join the Royal Navy properly, he enlisted officially as a Boy 2nd Class coming up to his 16th Birthday on 18th September 1928 at the Ganges Training Ship.
Once he turned 18 he could sign on for his 12 years term on 29th November 1930.
He would go on to serve about 22 years, including his 2 years underage, before his discharge in 1950, rising through the rank of the Royal Navy Stores Trade.
His promotions:
Boy 2nd Class, 18th September 1928.
Boy 1st Class, 17th March 1829
18th December 1929 (Beginning of his Supply career), Supply Boy
29th November 1930 (now 18 years old), Supply Assistant.
15th March 1936, Leading Supply Assistant.
7th June 1939 , Supply Petty Officer, July 1939, HMS Effingham (Cairo)
15th December 1941, Supply Chief Petty Officer.
Invalided out of the Navy at Haslar R.N. Hospital on 15th March 1950.
Married Patricia Margaret Kimber (1922-2012).
