The explosion in a fuel tank on board HMNZS Achilles at Portsmouth on 22 June 1943, which killed 14 dockyard workers, might have claimed more lives had it not been for the prompt and courageous action of members of the cruisers’ crew. Dale, with complete disregard for his own safety, and working in pitch dark, found four injured men and passed them up to safety.
Leading Stoker Donald William DALE AM, NZ 4861
The explosion in a fuel tank on board HMNZS Achilles at Portsmouth on 22 June 1943, which killed 14 dockyard workers, might have claimed more lives had it not been for the prompt and courageous action of members of the cruisers’ crew.
A dozen men owed their lives to Stoker First Class Donald Dale, of Waimate, Engineroom Artificer William Vaughan, RN, of Durham, England, and Stoker First Class Ernest Valentine, RNZNVR, of Ohakune.
After finding that all smoke apparatus was in use, Dale tied a handkerchief over his mouth and went down three decks into a smoke filled space. With complete disregard for his own safety, and working in pitch dark, he found four injured men and passed them up to safety.
He then went up on deck for a breath of fresh air before re-entering the fuel tank that was the seat of the explosion. With Dale went a dockyard worker named Rogers. Between them they rescued two men who were hauled clear by ropes. Those rescued said afterwards that, without the New Zealander’s help, they would not have survived. For his actions Dale was awarded the Albert Medal, the only member of the New Zealand Navy Forcers to receive this rare decoration during the Second World War.