William Ewart Hiscock, GC, DSC (13 January 1886 – 15 February 1942) was a Royal Navy officer who was awarded the George Cross for the "great gallantry and undaunted devotion" he displayed in September 1941 in attempting to defuse a novel Italian 'Torpedo Machine' in St George's Bay, Malta, during the Second World War.
William Ewart Hiscock | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 January 1886 Dorchester, Dorset, England |
| Died | 15 February 1942 (aged 56) Malta |
| Buried | Kalkara Naval Cemetery, Kalkara, Malta |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1900–1936 1939–1942 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Unit | HMS St Angelo |
| Battles / wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | George Cross Distinguished Service Cross |
Naval career
editHiscock was mentioned in dispatches on 20 September 1918 while serving as a Gunner.[1]
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 14 January 1941 while serving in the bomb disposal division at HMS St Angelo in Malta as a Lieutenant commander on the retired list.[2]
On 3 February 1942. he was awarded the George Cross.[3] The citation read:
The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the George Cross for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty to Lieutenant (Acting Lieutenant-Commander) William Ewart Hiscock, D.S.C., R.N. (retired) (to be dated 3rd February, 1942).
Death
editHiscock and his wife Alice Beatrice Hiscock were killed when an enemy bomb landed directly on their home in St George's Barracks, Malta on 15 February 1942.
References
edit- ^ "Mention in Dispatches" (PDF). The London Gazette. Supplement to. 20 September 1918. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "Distinguished Service Cross" (PDF). The London Gazette. Supplement to. 14 January 1941. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "George Cross". The London Gazette. Second Supplement to. 12 June 1942. Retrieved 15 October 2023.