In 2014 the Daily Mail ran a story about the
forthcoming sale at auction of a set of medals which were awarded to Liverpool-born
Duggie Pomford. Expected to sell for about £50,000 they realised £90,000 for
Pomford’s family, their value reflecting the extraordinary story of his heroic
exploits in the Second World War.
Douglas Pomford was born on 29th March 1920, the
son of carter John James Pomford and his wife Mary (née Lonsdale). Before the
war he established himself as a very successful amateur boxer, winning the
Lancashire and Cheshire middleweight title. He reached the final of the
Northern Counties light-heavyweight competition, narrowly losing on points to
Yorkshireman Bruce Woodcock who would go on to be professional European
champion and to fight for the world title.
When the war began in 1939 the Pomford family were living at
19 Hatherley Street L8, Douglas working as a porter. Joining the South Lancashire
Regiment in 1940 he continued to enjoy boxing success and his prowess in the
ring made him a natural candidate for the Commandos. He served with No.11
Commando group in Syria under Lt. Col. Geoffrey Keyes who won a posthumous V.C.
for his leadership of Operation “Flipper” the abortive attempt to capture
Rommel. Pomford should have been involved in the operation but the submarine on
which he was transported had to withdraw because of bad weather. Fortune had
smiled on him as all but 3 of the 34 men involved in the raid were killed or
captured.
He then became a founding member of No,1 Special Boat
Section, eastern Mediterranean Command. During 1942, after missing a submarine
pick up, he spent seven months in a mountain hideout with Greek partisans.
Fortune again had smiled upon Duggie Pomford, as the submarine on which he
should have sailed was sunk.
His wartime exploits across the Greek islands saw him
awarded two Military Medals, in one incident he disturbed two German officers
as they were putting on their pyjamas and ‘despatched’ them both. His
commanding officer’s recommendations for his medals referred to his leadership
and “coolness with complete disregard for danger”. Later on in the war
he qualified as a paratrooper and took part in further operations in the
Balkans.
Demobilised in 1946 he took up employment as a foreman with
the Port of Liverpool Stevedoring Company and was living at 1 Eversley Street
L8 (now demolished). In 1945 he married Mary Cavanagh. Continuing his interest
in boxing he was a key figure in the founding of the Golden Gloves Amateur Boxing
Club in Dingle, involved as a trainer
and secretary from its inception until his untimely death aged 49 in 1969. Peacetime
would still see him perform heroics as in 1954 he was awarded a medal by the
Liverpool Humane Society for jumping into a Liverpool dock to save a drowning
man.
I suspect few Liverpudlians know the name of Duggie Pomford
but if ever there was a case for a blue plaque he surely merits one.
