View Full Version : Mark Turrell RN Diver?
Hello All
My daughter works in care home for elderly. She looks after their welfare/social interaction - to me she is like a holiday rep and for a 24 year young girl to work with all the hassle and red tape that the gov heap on her I think she does a good job.
Anyway, she has 1 gentleman, Name MARK TURRELL - unfortunately Mark has some problems, memory loss being the smallest of them. He has a paper clip with his name on which states that he was a RN Diver who helped with the recovery of a lost submarine for which he received recognition etc...
Now unfortunatley this gent does not get many visitors so Kate my daughter tries to spend time with him and get him to remember things and get his brain working.
She has asked me to try and find out some more about his past Naval life - so can anyone enlighten me? Mark must have served around the 1930 to 1960 mark.
Unfortunately the paperclip she found is heavily damaged and she only just managed to get the above information off but no names etc....
Tks All in advance for any information you can supply
Danny
It may be worthwhile contacting the Clearance Diver Association - see their website at: http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/index.html
I believe they can be contacted by e-mailing: webmaster@mcdoa.org.uk
Rob Hoole
06-12-2009, 11:35
It may be worthwhile contacting the Clearance Diver Association - see their website at: http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/index.html
I believe they can be contacted by e-mailing: webmaster@mcdoa.org.uk
I'm already on the case. I have posted Danny's query on the restricted access RN Clearance Divers' website at http://rndivers.multiply.com (http://rndivers.multiply.com/).
Best wishes,
Rob Hoole
(aka Webmaster at www.mcdoa.org.uk (http://www.mcdoa.org.uk))
Gents
Tks for that, I know my daughter is keen to try and get the guy moving/talking in fact if I read it right, well, to do anything rather than just fade away...... I know she is a service kid but nice to see a younger person doing something positive for a change....
Anyway, if anything comes up I will share with all what we find after Kates shown Mark
Danny
Gents
Could I have got the name wrong? following found via the link you left!
TERRELL Mark
Lt Cdr RN / UCWE Portland
28 May 57 MBE
CDO - Appointed MBE for gallantry and skill in rendering safe a German mine underwater and in darkness in the West India Dock, London on 26th January 1957.
trying to get hold of my daughter today
Danny
jbryce1437
06-12-2009, 14:33
Found this book listing on diving by Mark Terrell, published 1965
THE PRINCIPLES OF DIVING
Mark Terrell.
First published 1965. Stanley Paul & Co. Ltd, London et al.
Hardcover, no dustjacket on review copy, 240 pages, 27 photographs and drawings, 7 tables .
The usual techniques, equipment, physiology; self-contained equipment, submarine medicine, underwater fishing, seamanship, underwater work, future development, et al.
Chapters: The Sea as an enviorment, Safety and Communications, Diving without apparatus, Diving using Surface Air supply, Deep diving and self-contained equipment, Submarine Medicine, Underwater fishing, Seamanship and surface navigation, Underwater navigation, searching and surveying, Underwater work, Future developments.
Would ave beeen a most useful book in its day, with comprehensive detail on all aspects of basic diving theory and medicine, as well as 'underwater fishing', seamanship and surface navigation, underwater navigation, underwater work, and an interesting chapter on 'Future Developments'where the author writes of being (at the time), on "... the verge of a great advance in the teachniques that will enable mankind to move with ease and cerrtainty in the underwater environment". He mentions 'composite diving equipment', where the 'canister gas supply' is intergrated with the diving suit made of 'a tough skin' - which is esentialy a dry suit, although we dont have a integrted suit and air supply as such for sport diving. Yet we do have rigid articulated suits, or Atmospheric Diving Suit which were around in the sixties anyway, for commecial use. (Without a dusjacket, there is no indication as to the authority of Mark Terrell the author but I guess is he is navy trained.)
Rob Hoole
06-12-2009, 16:27
Gents
Could I have got the name wrong? following found via the link you left!
TERRELL Mark
Lt Cdr RN / UCWE Portland
28 May 57 MBE
CDO - Appointed MBE for gallantry and skill in rendering safe a German mine underwater and in darkness in the West India Dock, London on 26th January 1957.
trying to get hold of my daughter today
Danny
Doh! Thanks Danny, I think you may be on to something. In the entry for 19 May 08 in News Archive 22 on the same site (www.mcdoa.org.uk (http://www.mcdoa.org.uk)), I have included a reference to Lt Cdr Mark Terrell in 'BANG' by my good friend, veteran WW II Bomb & Mine Disposal Officer Lt Noel Cashford MBE RNVR. The actual passage on pages 142/143 of Noel's book states:
...In 1957, a Port of London diver doing a routine below water dock wall inspection discovered an unexploded 'bomb'. Cdr Gordon Gutteridge, Lt Cdr M Terrell, Lt C Heatley, Petty Officer P Cobby, Leading Seaman P Alderton and Able Seaman E Harris were in Gordon's team sent to the West India Dock.
The 'bomb' was half buried in the mud; it was in fact a magnetic 'G' mine. It could not be brought to the surface and onto the dock, as it was likely to have a hydrostatic switch that would explode it.
For eight cold hours, officers and other ranks took it in turns to render it safe. For this dangerous job, Gordon was awarded the OBE, Lt Cdr Tyrell (sic) and Lt Heatley MBEs, PO Cobby, Leading Seaman Alderton, Able Seaman Harris received British Empire Medals. This was the last real life threatening 'job' Gordon did before leaving his beloved Navy...
It is quite possible that Mark Terrell was involved in the underwater search and inspection of the submarines TRUCULENT or AFFRAY.
I can confirm that initially I got name wrong (senior moment I think)
The Lt Cdr mentioned above is the gentleman in question at the care home my daughters works.
Danny
Don Boyer
06-12-2009, 17:40
It is just this kind of thing that makes this forum great, and what attracted me to sign up.
Imagine restoring this man's life history to him in the twilight of his years, when he probably thought all was gone and lost -- especially if he authored a book, etc., and participated in so many dangerous actions!
All who have contributed to finding this information deserve a great "hurrah!" from all of us.
Respectfully
I could not help but be moved by the thought of this old gentleman wasting away while all around had no idea of his bravery and achievements. They probably just thought of him as yet another old man gone beyond his useful years.
It is wonderful that someone cares enough about him to try and restore the respect and dignity he fully deserves.
I wonder how many more like him there are!
SCRG1970
06-12-2009, 18:13
Just every now and again something restores your faith in human nature and this is one of those times.
All who contributed to this a big BZ especially siggys daughter..because she cared.
Regards
gerry
All thanks for the information listed, I can confirm that all passed on to my daughter tonight and yes the book mentioned above is by Mark. My daughter managed to work out that he had written a book but was unable to get the title, I believe that he has a binder with various bits and pieces of information in it so she is hoping to increase the information there for him.
To all that assisted then very many thanks your assistance very much appreciated.
Mark currently living in the Northampton area, I have his contact details should anyone know of anyone who may remember him from their service.
Yours Aye
Danny
harry.gibbon
06-12-2009, 18:45
All done in a day!!! so may I echo the big BZ to all concerned; and hope that the gentleman benefits from these findings, which of course to him will be within his own memories.
I really do hope that the initial concern of this caring young woman can awaken something which for him will enrichen his current situation.
One is left thinking 'there but for the good grace etc'
Little h
Great work from everyone concerned. How uplifting to read a story like this. It makes a change from the garbage foisted upon us by today's media.
Cheers
Bruce
What a fantastic story!
Someone in the Northhampton area should get onto the local T.V. station and report this episode.
Credit to this young woman Kate. Her caring and insight. Also this forum!
That's what its all about.
Best story I've heard so far! Brought tears to my eyes, thinking of the poor guy's predicament. But the relief to know his deeds have been revived, acknowledged and appreciated.
What a Christmas present!
keblin
Danny, I am sure I am not the only one but, personally speaking, I wonder if you could keep us informed of his progress? It would be wonderful if he regained even part of his memory.
harry.gibbon
06-12-2009, 21:41
My suggestion is that the RN & RM Association in Northampton ought to be notified via their Area or Assoc Sec. and perhaps they can have their visiting member(s) give a lift to young Kate and her endeavours!
Or indeed the local RBL!!
Little h
Rob Hoole
06-12-2009, 22:54
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Even if this does turn out to be the person we suspect, I urge everyone to draw breath and consider the individual concerned, especially in view of his apparent age and vulnerable state. Making a big song and dance may not be in his best interests, especially if (as I suspect from knowing people with similar backgrounds) he is a private person by nature. Unsolicited fuss and the glare of publicity may well be the last things he needs.
Danny has provided me with his daughter's contact details and I will follow things up with her during the coming week. This is a delicate matter so I intend treading extremely cautiously. I recommend others do the same. In the meantime, watch this space.
Best wishes,
Rob
www.mcdoa.org.uk (http://www.mcdoa.org.uk)
To All Many Thanks for assistance - much appreciated.
Rob - Kate knows that you might be calling her at work.
Danny
Rob Hoole
31-03-2011, 07:00
To bring this story up to date, I eventually made contact with Katherine (the daughter of ex-Clearance Diving Officer Lt Cdr Mark Terrell MBE RN) and put her in touch with some of his old comrades. However, one of these (ex-CD David Eaton) has now informed me that Mark Terrell died from natural causes on 18 January at the age of 85. Sadly, the veteran naval bomb & mine disposal officer and author, Lt Noel Cashford MBE RNVR, who mentioned Mark Terrell in his book 'BANG', has also passed away since my last posts on this subject.
Mark's daughter Katherine has published an entry dedicated to her father here (http://mark.terrell.gonetoosoon.org/) on the 'Gone too Soon' website. It contains several photos and these words:
"Mark Terrell was born in London 15th August 1925, entered the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in 1939 & served in the Royal Navy principally in submarines & experimental diving. In this time he was awarded the MBE for mine disposal, and later the VRD.
In 1957 he retired to form and run the diving engineering company Underseas Ltd and during this time, worked on a wide variety of marine engineering projects across the globe, including an early survey of the Cross Channel Power Cable Route in 1960, and many other challenging and innovative projects. In 1964 he left the company to work as a marine consultant, expanding his interests in science and writing.
Mark designed and developed a number of devices, (some patented) ranging from breathing apparatus to pipeline laying and burying systems. His book, 'The Principles of Diving', was published in 1965. His scientific interests were largely centred on the physiology of respiration, sensory deprivation underwater and decompression sickness. This led to involvement with a student group in 1988 and an introduction to computing from which his long term study of the human brain and a model for a possible mechanism of consciousness emerged. His study of this subject spanned two decades and resulted in a number of essays and a privately published book, 'The Resonant Triad'.
Having moved to an island in Greece in the 1980s, Mark returned to UK and moved to the seaside town of Bridlington, a familiar and favourite place. Mark was in the process of revising and adapting when an accident, followed by worsening progressive illness, prevented further work on this project. Further information on the book and the project will be released at a future date.
Mark died on Tuesday 18th January 2011 at The Meadows Care Home in Yardley Gobion, Northamptonshire, UK at the age of 85, following a bad fall and progressive illness. Right up until the day of his accident, Mark continued to keep fit, as he had always counselled others. He walked everywhere, swam in the sea and did morning press ups, sit ups and stretches. He also retained an enduring curiosity and passion about flora, fauna and the sea throughout his life."
David Eaton, who served with Mark Terrell on the UCWE (Underwater Countermeasures Weapons Establishment) diving team during the 1950s, has emailed Katherine these descriptions of some of the photos (http://mark.terrell.gonetoosoon.org/photos/list/) she has published on the 'Gone too Soon' memorial website:
"Page 1
'The Trawl' was taken by Mark in Falmouth Bay between dives. We often carried out this procedure, also line fishing and collecting scallops and crabs from the sea bed and these were cooked on board the M.F.V. by the crew. The second photo shows me in diving gear with Peter Cobby, a member of the team, and the remainder are crew. Photo No.5 is C.P.O. Nick Carter (a team member). The adjacent one is also of Nick with a pot on his head
Page 2
The third and fourth photographs are of Derek Rowe (AB) and the following one is George Robey (LS) and Mac (I am afraid his Christian name escapes me).
Page 3
Photo No.1 shows the Cornish engineer on board the MFV, also a deck hand. Photo No.2 shows George Robey on the right with a deck hand in the background and the diver is a deckhand who asked for a dive but once again his name escapes me."
http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Mark%20Terrell%20med.jpg
Lt Cdr Mark Terrell MBE RN
(15 Aug 1925 - 18 Jan 2011)
We extend our deep condolences to Katherine and her family on their loss.
RonHowell
31-03-2011, 08:26
Wow what a story, which backs up my statement to all I meet, behind every old person there is a full and interesting life and they all deserve our respect and care. I am in my early 70's now and I hope that there will be caring people like yourselves to look out for me when I start to lose it.
Well done to you all, you brightened up my morning.
Ron
John Brown
31-03-2011, 11:45
Very sad to hear of Mr Turrells passing.
Regards to his family.....John
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