Town memorial for bravest of the brave
Plaque unveiled for Victoria Cross hero whose mission put Tirpitz out of action
A memorial plaque has been unveiled to honour one of Lanarkshire’s most notable war heroes.
Lieutenant Donald Cameron carried out one of the most daring attacks on a German battleship during World Ward Two – and was awarded the Victoria Cross.
The submariner from Carluke was remembered in a poignant service at the town’s High Street on Saturday, May 7.
The event was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Lady Haughey CBE, civil dignitaries, senior naval officers, as well as members of the Submariners’ Association and the local Sea Cadets group.
They all joined locals and members of the Cameron family.
Donald’s daughter Amanda Prideaux, who was only 15 when he passed away, unveiled her dad’s blue plaque. She said: “It was a lovely day. We were very touched. I think dad would’ve been thrilled, although very embarrassed because we never talked about it. We only ever started talking about it all once we started having children and grandchildren, because you realise the history and they need to know how it is.
“We are immensely proud. He was very humble about it all and said he did it because he was there. And I think he would always more remember those who didn’t come back.
“As a family we feel immensely proud to be descended from such a distinguished but immensely private man.”
Donald was a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve.
On September 22, 1943, he used a midget submarine to carry out a stealth attack on the German battleship Tirpitz, at Kafjord on the Altafjord, in Norway.
The Tirpitz and her sister Bismarck were the largest and most powerful German battleships to serve in World War II.
The Carluke man, and another lieutenant, travelled over 1000 miles through enemy territory to plant mines on the hull of the ship, disabling it for months.
The deed saw the pair negotiate a minefield, dodge nets, gun defences and enemy listening posts, before eventually placing the charges underneath the ship where they went off an hour later.
The resulting explosion caused the ship to be out of action for many months – proving a key mission in heroics documented throughout World War Two.
For his outstanding gallantry and leadership, Donald was awarded his VC by King George VI in 1944.
He died in hospital, age 45, at Haslar, Hampshire in 1961. His ashes were buried at sea from HMS Thule in April 1961.