VALERIE Reynolds thought she knew her father but it took 28 years after his death to find out that he was a hero who sank enemy ships and survived a German attack in the Second World War.

Valerie, 73, of Weymouth, knew that her father Arthur Perrett served in the war, but had no knowledge of what his medal collection was for.

Arthur was awarded multiple medals - among them the prestigious Distinguished Service Medal.

It was only when Valerie decided to enlist her children and grandchildren to carry out some online research and find addresses of who she should write to that she found out exactly what her dad did in the Royal Navy.

Arthur served on the submarine HMS Stubborn as a Temporary Petty Officer and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1944 in recognition of being involved in a battle off Norway in 1944.

On February 11 1944, Stubborn sank the German merchant Makki Faulbaum and torpedoed and damaged the German merchant Felix D. Stubborn was then damaged by German escort ships. The submarine plummeted 200ft deeper than its desired maximum depth.

It tried to get back to port without its rudder, but was luckily met by HMS Swift and HMS Meteor and was towed home to Lerwick, with her crew acting as human "balance weights" to maintain the submarine on an even keel.

Arthur's name was amongst those announced in the London Gazette on April 11 1944 for his bravery. His citation read: "For great skill, resolution and fortitude in a successful patrol in HM Submarine Stubborn and in bringing her to port despite most determined counter-attacks by the enemy."

He was presented with his decoration by King George VI at an investiture held on May 23 1944.

The family also discovered that Arthur was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Empire Medal and a medal for naval long service and good conduct.

Valerie said "We were ecstatic to find this out. I couldn't believe what we had found out all this time after he died.

"His war record did tie in with what I thought about him. But he wasn't someone who would boast about anything at all. The only people he would talk to about the war were his brothers and that was only a couple of years before he died.

"I think us children would have loved to have known about it, but I think he wanted to protect us."

Arthur entered the Navy as a 16-year-old, and over the years served on numerous vessels besides Stubborn, including Dolphin, Maidstone and Adamant.

Valerie has some very happy memories of her dad, who was born in Neath, Glamorgan, on October 7 1920 and lived in Weymouth after being posted to Portland with the Navy.

She said: "I remember going with dad to the Nothe Fort. He would enjoy looking at the Second World War memorabilia there."

Arthur met his future wife and Valerie's mum Elsie May Seldon when she was in the Wrens. They got married in Gosport when Arthur was on leave and had five children.

Outside of the Navy, the unassuming Arthur loved growing vegetables.

Valerie said: "He had a big garden that he loved to grow fruit and vegetables in. He had rows of potatoes and gooseberry bushed. He loved to be out in the open air, probably because he was so used to being in a submarine. When dad was at sea, mum would look after it.

"My brothers had Hornby train sets and he would like to set them up with my brothers. He was very good with his hands and would do carpentry."

Arthur and Elsie eventually went back to live in Wales because Arthur missed the Gower coast. He passed away in 1989 aged 69, not long after Elsie died.

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