Bob Coles MBE - 1st Shanklin
This page is one of "MaC's Memories" - a series of stories about the people who helped to make Isle of Wight Scouts what it is today.
The photos come from Barry's archive - some of their filenames appear a little confusing...
Apart from being known as a Scout, Bob was also known for running his photographic shop in Shanklin.
This 1930's Scout enrollment certificate, although made out for Kenneth Coles, was linked to Bob's records
Washington DC 1937 BSOA (Boy Scouts Of America) National Jamboree
Ralph Reader Washington DC 1937 BSOA National Jamboree (photo taken by Bob)
Bob's Medal of Merit award in 1964
I'm not sure of the author of this document, but it's reproduced here as a testament to an incredible lifestory....
Funeral of a real hero: Just got back from it. A no-nonsence, no-kneeling, no-praying, no-hyming, appreciation of a good life. He was a kind friend and neighbour. RIP Bob! Here is my bit on a part that wasn't mentioned:
317 NOTABLE WAR SERVICES
The Commander-in-Chief desires to bring to the notice of all ranks in the Command of coolness and courage displayed by No.751124 Sergeant Coles K.R.. an air observer of No. 139 Squadron.
On the 23rd April, 1941, Sergeant Coles was the observer of an aircraft detailed to attack a power station at Ibbenburen in Germany, using cloud cover. Finding insufficient cloud cover off Bergen-Aan-Zee, the course was altered in an Easterly direction in an endeavor to find more suitable conditions. The primary task was abandoned approximately 120 miles north of the original track when two flak ships were located 12 miles West of Borhure. In the face of intense A/A and machine gun fire a determined attack was made from low level on each ship in turn, a direct hit being observed on the first. Both ships were then vigorously attacked by machine gun fire. During this attack the aircraft received a direct hit by an A/A shell, setting fire to the interior of the cockpit. Dense smoke filled the cockpit, and the Very cartridges, accumulator, maps etc. were on fire.
With his hands this N.C.O. extinguished the flames and threw the debris through the blister gun hatch*.
It is considered that Sergeant Coles' courage on this occasion was, without doubt, the deciding factor in the success of the attack and the safe return of the aircraft to its base.
The above account, taken from DAILY ROUTINE ORDERS by Group Captain G.R.C. Spencer, Commanding Royal Air Force Station, Horsham St. Faith, is a very basic account of what preluded an amazing wartime adventure. The A/A shell had hit the aircraft, a Mk4 Blenheim and bounced into Bob (Smudger) Coles' upturned tin-hat which was on the floor. It smashed the radio accumulators, releasing choking sulphuric acid fumes, The gas was so bad that the pilot had to press his streaming eyes against the windscreen in a desperate bid to see ahead. The charts and other items caught fire and it was up to Smudger Coles to clear it away but, that was nothing compared to what then happened. As mentioned, the rack of Very-Light cartridges started popping off. Searing magnesium flares turned the innards of the aircraft into a flaming furnace. As the aeroplane careered through the sky, Smudger grabbed into the conflagration and stuffed the burning items out through the jagged hole made by the ack-ack shell (* Bob's note: Not the machine gun blister as stated.)
Having made it back to base, the crew of Blenheim P4860, were taken to task by a senior member of their ground-crew for yet-again returning with a damaged aeroplane. It seems he was a little fed up with having to constantly patch up the old kite following a variety of misadventures including a rather messy bird-strike which had smashed the leading edge of the starboard wing.
"One bloody thing after another," was his wry comment. "Why don't you really prang it and finish the job properly?" This request was soon to be achieved.
During the night of 7th & 8th May 1941, Smudger Coles was again Observer in P4860. The aircraft was piloted by Sgt. J. W. Middleton and A. G. Hale was Wireless Operator / Gunner. Under a bright moon, they had set course for the Hook of Holland.
Their main objective was an enemy convoy which they soon found and decided to have a go at its largest ship. Swooping in, they released one bomb and as their reception was somewhat un-welcoming, decided to carry on to a secondary target: moored barges and transport ships at Delfzijl. It was on this leg that Bob Hale spotted a German fighter closing in. He shouted a warning over the intercom and Bill Middleton immediately took severe evasive action. The strategy was a little too frantic as the Blenheim smacked into the sea, breaking its fuselage in two. Bob Hale was left in the gun turret as the fore section with pilot and observer tumbled on. As the wreckage finally came to rest in very shallow water, it caught fire.
Smudger, who had sustained the lesser injuries of the three crewmen, got clear and found he was in water up to his chest. He managed to get the rubber dinghy inflated, hauled the stunned and bleeding pilot aboard and then started paddling towards the rear part of the aircraft and Bob Hale. Smudger yelled trying to find out if Bob had survived but at this stage, there was no reply, he was in fact unconscious, slumped against his guns. Fortunately, his head remained above the surface of the water and he was soon to be woken.
From the main wreck came flashes and bangs as flares and ammunition went off. Suddenly, a terrific explosion. The remaining bombs blew up. This tremendous detonation sent flaming debris in all directions and as things started to settle and the sound rumbled away, Smudger and Bill heard a barely audible cry. Their mate was still alive!
With his two comrades in the dinghy, Smudger started wading towards the shore which was some way off. The tide was out but there was no beach, only deep, sticky mud.
Eventually the three airmen managed to get ashore where they were taken into custody by enemy troops who'd had plenty of time to receive them. This was the start of a long adventure which included several escapes and re-captures. The first was from hospital within days of the crash and then from p.o.w. camps. On one of these occasions, Smudger and his friends managed to get into Germany's second largest fighter factory and testing base at Regensburg where they planned to steal an aeroplane, Undetected, they crept beneath the wing of one aircraft but found that all the planes were securely tethered and tarpaulined. It became apparent that to remove the covers let alone get the engines started would be pushing luck too far..... So, they crept silently away.
Whilst enduring the privations of POW life, Smudger Coles secretly recorded his experiences in an illustrated journal which he kept in a tin beneath the floorboards of his hut and eventually, it was sown into his haversack. On his final escape, he made it back to the British lines and home. Below is just one of the intricate pages of the hand-written journal.
After the war, Smudger was awarded the MBE for his bravery and, already an accomplished photographer, he became a director of a leading reprographics company and eventually opened The Robert Coles Photographic Studio in Shanklin, Isle of Wight. He has always painted and in retirement, produces superb canvases.
The remains of Blenheim P4860 remained in the mud off the coast of Holland for over 57 years until they were discovered by local aviation wreck historians. A concerted effort was made to recover some parts and Bob Coles was invited to open an exhibition which included the artifacts in 1991.
You may read more of his wartime exploits, in these books:-
"No Time for Fear" by Vic Gammon
"Blenheim Strike" by Theo Boiten.
"My War - Prisoner of War by Stewart Ross
Like all of our stories, we welcome any more information or photos to add to this story. Please contact us via our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/iwscoutingheritage