A WAR HERO'S BIGGEST BATTLE; After tackling 114 sea mines, 50 bombs and 50 grenades...Byline: DON HALE Don Hale (born July 1952) is a United Kingdom journalist. He was the editor of the Matlock Mercury who became involved in the campaign for a judicial review of the murder conviction of Stephen Downing. ONE of Britain's bravest men is facing his toughest battle yet - cancer. East Midland Noun 1. East Midland - the dialect of Middle English that replaced West Saxon as the literary language and which developed into Modern English Middle English - English from about 1100 to 1450 Navy war veteran Noel Cashford, from Cromford, Derby, who was awarded the MBE MBE (in Britain) Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE n abbr (BRIT) (= Member of the Order of the British Empire) → tÃtulo ceremonial MBE n abbr (Brit) (= in 1948, is preparing for a series of tests and an exploratory operation in Derby City Hospital Derby City General Hospital (DCGH) is one of two hospitals in the city of Derby, the other being the Derbyshire Royal Infimary. The hospital is currently undergoing a massive rebuild, doubling the size of the buildings. for prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. . Noel, a former lieutenant with the Royal Navy bomb and mine disposal unit, has just finished a gruelling tour of BBC local radio BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. Initially, stations had to be co-funded by the BBC and local authorities, which only some Labour-controlled areas proved willing to do. stations promoting his plans to publish his memoirs in a unique book of wartime experiences called 'All Mine!' Documentary His work is now to be considered for a potential TV documentary about the work of men in the 1939-45 RN bomb and mine disposal units, and could become as popular as the Army's Danger UXB Danger UXB was a 1979 British ITV television series about a squad of Royal Engineers with the duty of defusing unexploded ordnance in England during the Blitz in World War II. television series starring Anthony Andrews. Noel played down his own role during a spectacular career in bomb disposal that included the 'making safe, disposal or blowing-up' of some 114 sea mines, seven magnetic mines and 50 anti-tank and boat bombs. In addition, he tackled 50 dodgy dodgy - Synonym with flaky. Preferred outside the US grenades, three ground mines and a flying bomb! Ironically, Noel claimed that some 85 per cent of mines dealt with by his team were Allied and usually washed ashore on English coastlines. He was credited with helping to counter 'Hitler's Secret Weapon', a highly dangerous series of magnetic mines, and was the first naval officer NAVAL OFFICER. The name of an officer of the United States, whose duties are prescribed by various acts of congress. 2. Naval officers are appointed for the term of four years, but are removable from office at pleasure. Act of May 15, 1820, Sec. 1, 3 Story, L. ashore with the main liberation force at Jersey, re-taking the Channel Islands from the Germans in 1945. In between, Noel helped to take a captured Nazi U-boat to safe moorings, was almost crushed by a 1,000lb bomb - and blew up a cargo of oranges and rotting whale blubber by mistake. He was awarded an MBE in January 1948, and received a poignant and congratulatory message from King George. Noel began his wartime career as a sort of 'Pikey' in Dad's Army before opting to join the Navy as an ordinary seaman. He started in submarines but failed an eye test and transferred to a shore job. He asked to go into Combined Operations and was later recommended for a commission at Greenwich Naval College. Bravery There, his bravery and initiative were noted and was soon posted to special duties, first at Aldwich and then moved to a top-secret location called HMS Volcano. Noel said: 'I had no idea what I had let myself in for. Eventually, I was shipped off for a three-day course and then, when I was made up as bomb safety officer, attended another top secret course where I was taught all they knew.' Noel met and married his wife Brenda during the war. She was a boat's crew wren and they were married in 1945. Anyone interested in helping Noel to publish his book can contact him on 01629 823179. CAPTION(S): WASHED ASHORE... Noel, in the centre wearing a white cap, tackles a sea mine HEROIC EXPLOITS... Noel, kneeling above left, and on the left, above right |
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