Obituary: Lieutenant-Commander Phil Humphries RNVR.

Lt Cdr Phil Humphries, a war hero and founder of the Royal Navy Commandos, has died aged 87.

A founder member of the Bexhill on Sea branch of the Royal Naval Association, Phil, of College Road, dedicated a lot of effort in his later years to ensuring the group remained on an even keel. In recognition of this he was recently invested as president.

Eric Woodhouse, chairman of the Bexhill RNA, said: "He was a quiet man, with a natural ability to make people feel welcome and at ease. At a time like this we should reflect on just what a unsung hero he was."

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This was far removed from his wartime exploits where courage and determination were the hallmarks of what could best be described as boys' own material.

On joining the Royal Navy in 1940 he was immediately singled out for officer training. Whilst awaiting this training he was drafted to HMS Sunflower as an ordinary seaman and spent his time on Atlantic Convoys.

On completion of his Officers training at Lancing College he applied for Special Services, not realising what it entailed but feeling it must be better than convoy life.

The reality rapidly became apparent when he was drafted to HMS Armadillo, situated in one of the remotest parts of Scotland. On arrival he was met by 76 ratings that he described as the roughest toughest bunch he had ever set eyes upon. His job was training these men into becoming the first ever RN Commandos in preparation for the forth-coming events.

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Their first major assignments was Dieppe, clearing a passage through enemy defences to enable the assault to take place. Although Dieppe itself was a failure the Commandos achieved their objective and the lessons learned ensured future raids would be more successful.

During Operation Torch in November 1942 on the North African Coast, his men successfully cleared the beach for the landings, but due to poor Navigation the Americans never arrived.

The Sicilian Landings in July 1943 were also due to the Commandos' work in preparing the beach.

In September of 1943, the Salemo Landings proved disastrous. American commanders insisted Phil and his men use surface craft for the landings for the first time. Phil' s boat along with several others received direct hits from the shore by mortar shells, resulting in Phil being hospitalised for six months after being blinded.

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On return to the UK he joined HMS Glenroy for the D-Day landings as a Communications Officer. Following that he joined a Tank Landing Ship as the Navigating Officer and took her to the far east, where he remained until the Japanese surrendered.

Whilst in Singapore Lord Louis, Commander in Chief of the Far East congratulated Phil for being the youngest officer in charge of a major war vessel (aged 23).

Demobbed in 1946, he was recalled for the Korean War in 1951 and drafted to HMS Tiree to help carry out secret operations for the Scientific Department of the Admiralty, who were laying down a submarine tracking system around the shores of the UK. The work carried out by the Tiree still remains confidential.

Eric said: "On behalf of all the shipmates and myself I would like to thank the Conquest and St Michaels Hospice for the care and attention our shipmate received in his final days."

Phil's wife, Marie, died last year. He leaves one son.

All are welcome to his funeral at 2.30pm in Eastbourne Crematorium on August 26.