We were delighted to welcome back Old Novaportan Lt Cdr Adam Coomer (2010) on 13th September 2024. He inspected the cadets on parade and then gave the troop an insight into his career in the Royal Navy.

After reading Politics at Manchester Metropolitan University, Adam enlisted and underwent initial officer training at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. As a Logistics Officer he has had postings on board a variety of ships, enjoyed two winters in Norway on cold weather training operations, a posting in Dubai supporting UK operations in the Middle East and is now based at the Maritime Operations Centre in the UK.

Adams’ CCF currently has an Army and RAF section. With Adam representing the Royal Navy, the opportunity was taken to rededicate “The Purslow Oak”. This millennium oak tree was planted at Longford in 2000 to honour the act of valor made by ON Geoffrey Purslow (1935) who gave his life on 1st October 1942, aged 26 years.

Geoffrey Charles Purslow M.B, Ch.B, M.R.C.S, L.R.C.P was a boarder at Adams’ Grammar School between 1926-1935. He became Head of School and Captain of Football and Cricket. As a Kitchener Scholar he entered Birmingham University in 1935 and joined the Merchant Navy in 1941. In January 1942 her was appointed Surgeon on the SS Laconia.

The British RMS Laconia was a 600-foot long, 20,000-ton Cunard White Star ocean liner that had been converted into a troopship. She was carrying 2,732 men and women, including 1,400 Italian POWs. The ship was torpedoed by U-156 on 12th September just after 10pm and a scene of terror and chaos ensued as she sank.

In line with International rules of engagement, the U-boat’s commander surfaced and initiated a rescue. 200 were brought on board and four lifeboats were towed. A Red Cross flag was flown and contact made with the Allied Powers. On 16th September, heading towards Dakar, a US B-24 Liberator attacked the submarine which was forced to descend and abort it’s rescue mission 600 miles from land.

Dr Purslow was on one of the lifeboats and did all he could to alleviate the suffering of the survivors, as their numbers diminished. Becoming ill himself, Purslow made the decision to step overboard, saying: “Since I can be of no further use to you, and may be a danger to you, it is better I should leave you.”

Two lifeboats did reach the African coast. One began with 68 on board of which 16 survived. On the other were 52 on board of which 4 survived.

During the rededication ceremony Mr Skeate explained the history behind the Laconia Incident, as it came to be known, Lt Cdr Coomer read Purslow’s citation, and ‘Eternal Father’, the hymn traditionally associated with seafarers, was sung.