Commander Geoffrey William Greet Royal Navy

A survivor of the sinking of the Laconia on 12 September 1942, Greet, a Leading Signalman, took charge of a boat assisting in the rescue of survivors. German U-boats and an Italian submarine also participated in the operation which was interrupted by a US B-24 bombing and strafing the survivors. Greet took part in the Norwegian Campaign in 1940 in the battleship Warspite and in Mediterranean convoys in the cruisers Penelope and Enterprise, 1940-42, before embarking in Laconia to return home, where he was promoted to Yeoman of Signals. Subsequently he trained as a naval beach commando, though a sports injury prevented him from active employment. In 1947 he was commissioned and served in the carriers Glory, Vengeance and Warrior; served in minesweepers in the Mediterranean, 1956-58; the frigate St Bride’s Bay in the Pacific; and in staff appointments in the Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence. He retired after 49 years service and died aged 101.