An overhead view of HMS Vernon, Portsmouth. During the Second World War, it became the main Royal ...

An overhead view of HMS Vernon, Portsmouth. During the Second World War, it became the main Royal Naval base responsible for mine disposal and mine countermeasures. The low building in the centre is called the Versuvius building. A depot or stores ship is tied up at the wharf (left). This image is from the collection of Lieutenant (Lt) Hugh Randall Syme, GC, GM and bar, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve who was based at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, from 1940 to 1942. Lt Syme rapidly developed a reputation for bravery, especially in delousing the unfamiliar German magnetic mines. He was awarded the George Cross and the George Medal and Bar for a string of successful mine recoveries. In January 1943 he returned to Australia and was appointed as the Commanding Officer of a bomb disposal section at HMAS Cerberus. He left the Navy in 1944, returning to the family business of running The Age newspaper in Melbourne.