| The citation reads: "In May 1941, the enemy started dropping a new type of mine, known as "G" type, which had no parachute and which if it did not exploded on impact, buried itself deeply in the ground (twenty to thirty feet or more). On 22 May, Fortt (Temporary Lieutenant Frederick Ronald Bertram Fortt, RNVR, also awarded the bar to his George Medal) and O'Hagan were sent to Nuneaton to deal with one of the first "G" mines dropped on land and unexpended. It was already known that it contained a new anti-handling mechanism activated by a photo-electric cell, which would explode when exposed to daylight and it was necessary to remove the unit of the mine containing this device before the mine would be safe to handles. Instruction showed that it was necessary to work in darkness and also that the mine would probably be magnetically alive and sensitive to any magnetic influence. The Nuneaton Bomb Disposal Squad (Lieutenant R.A. McClune) volunteered to work on the preliminary heavy excavation, up to the point of locating the mine. The mine was found at twenty-two feet and Fortt and O'Hagan freed the end from the surrounding sub-soil; they then widened the bottom of the shaft sufficiently for the necessary operations to be carried out upon the magneticunit. The soil being in the form of petrified clay, work could only be carried out with picks and shovels regardless of any effect which the vibration would have upon the mechanism of the mine -then very largely an unknown quantity. To add to the difficulties, those parts which had to be removed in the early and most dangerous stages of the operation were very heavy, in practice too heavy for one man along - this was why two officers were sent. Working in the dark, they successfully removed the magnetic unit and primer and, after further excavation, the fuze. Dealing with an unknown mine, courage of a very high order is re
quired. The operation was brought to a successful conclusion. Fortt has been in Land Incident Section for eight months and has dealt with thirty mines, O'Hagan for ten month and has dealt with twenty-three mines." |
