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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
Citation for the George Medal - Awarded 23 Oct 1945 - "When a " Biber " Midget Submarine was being brought into Dover on January 8th, 1945 the tow-line parted and it sank making location very difficult. As it was the first of its type to be recovered instructions had been given that it had to be raised at all costs and Lieutenant Steele showed great courage and initiative in carrying out this extremely hazardous operation.
When
the submarine had at last been located and brought into shallow water, it
was found to have one torpedo on board which was in the dangerous position
and not set to safe. As any small slip or jolt to the submarine might have
released the torpedo and caused it to fire, Lieutenant Steele took very
great precaution in lifting it. Moreover the pistol was found to be of a new
type and rendering it safe was a matter ol some guesswork and consequently,
very dangerous.
Lieutenant Steele also found and removed the submarine's scuttling charges which were in a particularly awkward position in the partly- flooded submarine. Any false move on his part in the bad light would have resulted in an explosion and his own destruction, but by his courage and devotion to duty the whole of this new type of midget submarine was captured intact as well as the latest type of torpedo pistol.
Lieutenant Steele also took part in the recovery of a new type of torpedo from a Seehunde Midget Submarine stranded oft Yarmouth on 7th February, 1945. This was also a very delicate and dangerous operation carried out under extremely difficult conditions in bad weather, and calling for great endurance and devotion to duty from this Officer and his helpers. The submarine went aground on the Scroby sands and when it was possible to land there Lieutenant Steele found that it was largely buried in liquid sand and very difficult to salvage. With the aid of a bulldozer and tractor and sheer determination, sufficient of the submarine was uncovered to make recovery of the torpedo possible. The weather and condition of the sand made it necessary to work as quickly as possible, and Lieutenant Steele and his party worked for thirty hours at a stretch in order to complete the operation successfully. The recovery of these new types of enemy weapons was of the greatest use in deciding on appropriate counter measures, which were very necessary at that time, as the midget submarine was a menace to coastal and cross-channel shipping."
Article on the Naval Historical Site of Australia - Recovery of German Midget Submarine and Torpedo
Ships served in: * First noted in the Navy Lists as an Ordnance Lieutenant-Commander, RCN (seniority 30 Sep 1945) (Navy List Jan 1947) RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX, 14 Dec 1946 as an Ordnance Lieutenant-Commander, RCN (seniority 30 Sep 1945) (Navy List Jan 1947) RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX, Ordnance Training Centre, 14 Dec 1946 as an Ordnance Lieutenant-Commander, RCN (Navy List Jan 1948) * Appointed Ordnance Commander (seniority 01 Jan 1948) (Navy List Jul 1948) NAVAL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS - Appointed to NSHQ, Director of Underwater Weapons - 02 Jun 1948 as an Ordnance Commander, RCN (Navy List Jul 1948) * Appointed Commander, RCN (Navy List Jul 1950) NAVAL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS - Appointed to NSHQ, Directorate of Naval Intelligence, N.I.D. 5 01 Mar 1950 as a Commander, RCN (Navy List Jul 1950). Appointed to N.I.L.O. (D.S.I.) 01 Mar 1950 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Jan 1951). NAVAL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS - Appointed to NSHQ, Director of Naval Standardization 05 Mar 1951 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Jul 1951) HMCS COMOX - Appointed to COMOX 02 Apr 1954 as a Cdr, RCN, CO and as Senior Officer Minesweepers (Pacific) (Nay List Jul 1954) HMCS NIAGARA (Washington, DC) - Appointed to NIAGARA 24 Oct 1955 as Add'l, on attachment to SACLANT as Assistant Director of Sea and Air Lines of Communications as an A/Capt, RCN (Navy List Jul 1956). Appointed Assistant Director Plans Defensive Operation 01 Jun 1958 as an A/Capt, RCN (Navy List Jan 1959) RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX, Base Superintendent Sydney 09 Feb 1959 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Jul 1959) HMCS STADACONA for FOAC - Appointed as Staff of FOAC, as Senior Naval Officer Sydney and as Officer in Immediate Command of Naval Personnel on detached duty 09 Feb 1959 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Jan 1960) HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA, Transient and Training 05 Feb 1962 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Apr 1962) * Not listed in the Navy Lists after Apr 1962
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