What link could there between one of the most daring raids in history and the Eye, well one Harry Elvin Nelson.
Harry was son of Robert and Eliza Nelson, of the High Street in Eye and prior to volunteering for the Royal Navy he worked at the Star Pit brick works in Dogsthorpe.
On joining the Navy he was given the number P/JX172374.’
- The P means the port – which was Portsmouth
- The J means seamen and communicators
- X was first added in 1925 as all joining that year would be on a lower pay scale. In 1931 it was added to all numbers taking all pay down to a lower level.
HMS Vernon
In the Peterborough Standard of February 1941 its reported that Harry had been awarded the order of the British Empire, Military Division. The “London Gazette” stated that the award was made for “gallant acts in the saving the lives of two shipmates when fire broke out in a motor launch.” The acts showed bravery while in contact with the enemy.
The Eye Patriotic Association decided to present a gold watch to Harry in honour of being awarded the medal
A documentary about the raid was created by the BBC narrated by on Jeremy Clarkson.
Harry is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and the Eye War memorial
