Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 33 OPERATION FOIL -30/31 July 1945 Occupied Hong Kong Harbour Naval history records the following account: “Tasked with tackling the Hong Kong end of the cable, 'Foil' was entrusted to Lieutenant H. P. Westmacott’s crew in XE-5, which was to be towed from the US Navy base at Subic Bay in the Philippine islands by the British submarine Selene. As well as operating well inshore close to Lamma Island, Westmacott’s divers (Lieutenant B. G. Clarke and Sub Lieutenant D. V. M. Jarvis) had a very hard time of it as they were impeded by the bottom’s thick mud under the constant threat of 'oxygen pete', a poisoning caused by the use of too much oxygen under pressure. Jarvis had made his sortie dressed only in swimming trunks and breathing apparatus and had the misfortune to operate the cutter on his finger, breaking the bone and causing heavy bleeding. In addition, he was badly stung by Portuguese man o’war jellyfish. He was re-embarked through the Wet and Dry compartment. Despite all the challenges, the operation was a success.” For his actions that night Sub-Lieutenant Denis Victor Mark Jarvis was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for “an act of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea”. After the war Denis worked at the London Stock Exchange from 1946 to 1973 – starting as the section-head in the Settlement Dept, then as Superintendent and later Manager; followed by, Computer Manager and Senior Analyst, Consultant and Lecturer on Computer systems. In 1973, Denis and his wife decided to join their son, Michael, and moved to Chester, Nova Scotia. Denis worked on the South Shore for ABCO Industries until his retirement in 1985, starting as the office manager and concluding as the plant manager. His wife Helen died on 14 January 1986. In October 1987, Denis married Mildred “Tilly” Roberts of New Germany, where they lived until she died in December 2015. He was a volunteer with many local institutions such as the South Shore Regional Hospital Board, New Germany and Area Lions Club and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 102, New Germany. Denis continued to live in New Germany until his death on Sunday, 23 April 2017, at the age of 92. XE5 in Subic Bay continued ...
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