We are currently moored along the canal in the Tamworth area and today, as I usually do, I went for a wander about to explore. It wasn't very busy or crowded as it was a Sunday and most shops seemed to either be closed as it was Sunday or closed for business due to covid. But explore I did anyway.
I came across a memorial that caught my eye due the nature of the anchor design which I thought a little peculiar as we are nowhere near the sea and narrowboats tend not to use anchors of this type.
As it turned out it was a memorial to Able Seaman Colin Grazier who was from Tamworth and for his heroic deed during World War 2.
Apparently Able Seaman Colin Grazier and First Lieutenant Tony Fasson ( who was from Scotland) served on HMS Petard during the war and this ship attacked German U boat U-559 with it's crew surrendering leaving the vessel to sink. Before it sank they managed to board the U-Boat and retrieving ENIGMA documents and passing them to a 16 year old NAAFI canteen assistant, Tommy Brown, who managed to get off the stricken vessel.
Sadly Grazier and Fasson both died when the U Boat sank with only Tommy Brown surviving.
The documents they managed to recover though were instrumental in the cracking of the ENIGMA code which enabled shipping to then avoid German U Boat attacks.
Historians believe this then may have shortened the war by about a year allowing many more supplies to get through and preventing all manner of Allied ships from being sunk by German U boat attacks.
This was all kept secret after the war for many decades until a campaign was made by an award winning journalist, Phil Shanahan, to have these men remembered and to have their actions brought to the attention of the world. Before this not even their families were aware of the huge contribution that these men had made to the shortening of the war.
In 2002 this memorial was erected with 3 anchors representing the 3 heroes that they be remembered for their valor.
