Main content

A Right Royal Rescue

HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, then a First Lieutenant aboard HMS Whelp, recalls his role in a daring rescue during WWII.

In January 1945, British aircraft attacked Japanese-held oil refineries in southeast Sumatra. It was a successful raid, but for two 21-year-olds it could have ended very badly. Shot down by a Japanese fighter, Roy 'Gus' Halliday and Norman 'Dickie' Richardson ended up in a leaking life raft considering the possibilities of shark activity in the area. Then HMS Whelp hove into view, and action. The rescue is remembered here by the two men and the first lieutenant of Whelp, HRH Prince Philip.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Fri 27 Jan 2006 11:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Interviewed Guest HRH the Duke of Edinburgh
Interviewed Guest Norman Richardson

Broadcast

  • Fri 27 Jan 2006 11:00