Francis Anthony Blair Fasson

Lieutenant Francis Anthony Blair Fasson RN was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the "for outstanding bravery and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of danger" he displayed on the 30 October 1942 in action in the Mediterranean. Able Seaman Colin Grazier RN also won the George Cross for the courage that he displayed during the same incident. The destroyer on which they served, HMS Petard, attacked and badly damaged the German U Boat U-559, in conjunction with the Destroyers HMS Pakenham and HMS Hero, the escort destroyers HMS Dulverton and HMS Hurworth, and an RAF Sunderland flying boat of 47 squadron based in Port Said. The crew of the U-559 surrendered and her crew was taken off with no casualties. Fasson and Grazier, along with NAAFI canteen assistant Tommy Brown, swam naked to the U-559 and entered the sinking submarine in complete darkness to capture instruments and documentation, fully aware that the submarine could sink without warning at any time. Grazier and Fasson continued to search for and hand over documents and equipment until suddenly the submarine "sank like a stone," drowning them both. The awards were published in the London Gazette on 14 September 1943. Fasson was born on 17 July 1913, educated at Jedburgh Grammar School and died aged 29.