DELVILLE WOOD

LONGUEVAL - SOMME - FRANCE

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Chief Stoker Petty Officer

Rene SETHREN

(1920-1967)

HMSAS Southern Isles

Was the only South African to be awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM).

On the 30^th June 1941 in the Mediteranean, the flotilla of four South African minesweepers was attacked by Stukas and Junkers 88s.Sethren replaced a wounded man on a twin Lewis, then was himself seriously wounded. Despite his injuries he dragged himself back to his gun and shot down an enemy aircraft. The citation for his CGM states that he was hit by eleven bullets. The medics in fact later found 27 wounds.