243365 2ndOff. Bernard Peter de_Neumann Merchant Navy SS Criton from:Hadleigh, Essex The Man from Timbuctoo
An Adventurous Life on, in and by the Sea
Bernard de Neumann, man of courage, British sailor, convicted pirate and dockmaster, was born in Hadleigh, Essex, on 18 September 1917 to inauspicious beginnings, but life and his own nature conspired to some quite unusual adventures and achievements that earned him the George Medal and Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea for removing a 250 kilogram bomb from deep in the engine-room of his ship and dropping it over the side during a Luftwaffe air attack.
Neumann's seagoing career included being sunk twice in the space of one month, being charged and convicted of piracy by the Vichy French, and being known as The Man from Timbuctoo (Timbuktu).
The full incredible life story is on the Rochford District Community Archive.
De Neumann was killed in an accident in Tilbury Dock in 1972 and his ashes were scattered on the River Thames in Gravesend Reach.
He is remembered among other venues in a Memorial garden outside Bramley Court, London Road, Hadleigh and at The de Neumann Way a cycle track from Benfleet Station to Leigh Station, passing by Hadleigh Castle.
Other people imprisoned in Timbuctoo:
- Capt G L Dobson
- R C Chalmers
- J Christie
- N T Clear
- S K Stretton (RNR)
- A MacFadden (RCAF)
- G Whalley
- P Johnson
Plus others names of which I cannot at present recall
They were also imprisoned in Conakry, and Kankan, West Africa. In total from June 1941 until December 1942.
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