Zeebrugge & Ostend, St George's Day 1918

[SiegeGunner]

Remembering all who took part in the raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend on 23 April 1918 and those who died, in particular Captain Henry Halahan RN.

[stiletto_33853]

Remembered

[BillyH]

BillyH1916

[David Ridgus]

Remembering in particular George Nicholson Bradford VC

David

[seaJane]

[sadsac]

Here the awards/Mentions to a much decorated officer ;

HALAHAN Henry C DSO - Killed Captain RN 79D113 N/E Vice Admiral Dover 23.07.18 N/E Operations on Belgian Coast 23.04.18 Zeebrugge & Ostend Mentioned in Despatches. Vice Admiral Sir Roger Keyes reports that this officer was killed before landing but is included in the recommendations on account of the good work he performed prior to the operation and for the high example of valour he set his men to the last.

HALAHAN Henry C N/E Cdr. RN 79D002 Bustard Rear Admiral Horace Hood 13.04.15 Gazetted. Operations of R.A. Hood's Flotilla off Belgian Coast 17.10.14 & 09.11.14 N/E His Gunboat was constantly in action close to the shore.

HALAHAN Henry C N/E Cdr. RN 86V012 President N/E N/E Gazetted. ? Under Commander Halahan report 11 - 27.04.15 LV Commander Halahan and the Naval Officers and men under him appear to have done exceedingly good work and to have shewn considerable ingenuity and resource.

HALAHAN Henry C N/E Cdr. RN 86V014 N/E Field Marshall Sir John French 07.08.15 Gazetted. On Shore in Belgium 1915 N/E Recommended for gallant and distinguished service in the field.

HALAHAN Henry C N/E Cdr. RN 86V015 President Prince Alexander of Teck 07.08.15 Gazetted. Naval Guns on Shore in Belgium on 28.08.15 N/E Has at all times rendered great assistance to Lt.Col. Tyrrell R.A. attached to the Military Mission with the Belgian Army.

HALAHAN Henry C N/E Cdr. RN 86V018 N/E Field Marshall Sir John French 19.11.15 Gazetted. In Flanders 1915 DSO He has commanded the Naval Heavy Batteries attached to the Beligian Army since 1st january 1915. In the operations from September 25th onwards on the Belgian front he displayed a gallantry and devotion to duty worthy of the best traditions of the Royal Navy.

HALAHAN H.C DSO Cdr. RN 86V031 N/E Field Marshall Sir John French 27.12.16 Gazetted. N/E N/E N/E

HALAHAN Henry C DSO Captain RN 86V064 Naval Guns Dunkirk C-in-C France Despatch 07.11.17 11.12.17 G(M) France 26.02.17 - 20.09.17 Mentioned in Despatches. For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty for the period 26th February to 20th September 1917.

RESURGAM

Sadsac

[sadsac]

Here the awards to Lt.Cdr Bradford ;

BRADFORD George N Killed Lt.Cdr. RN 79D137 Iris 11 - In Command Seaman Storming Party Vice Admiral Dover 23.07.18 N/E Operations on Belgian Coast 23.04.18 Zeebrugge & Ostend Mentioned in Despatches. Showed great bravery in securing the Iris 11 to the Mole. He climbed to the top of a derrick with a mole anchor on it leaped on to the Mole secured the anchor and was shot falling into the water between Iris 11 and the Mole.

BRADFORD George N N/E Lt.Cdr. RN 79D271 & 272 Vindictive - Iris 11 Vice Admiral Dover Patrol 17.03.19 Gazetted. Zeebrugge Operations on the night of 22-23.04.18 VC (Posthumous) For most conspicuous gallantry at Zeebrugge on the night of 22-23rd April 1918.
This officer was in command of the Naval Storming Parties embarked in Iris 11. When Iris 11 proceeded alongside the Molegreat diffficulty was experienced in placing the parapet anchors owing to the motion of the ship. An attempt was made to land by the scaling ladders before the ship was secured. Lt. Claude E.H. Hawkings (late Erin) managed to get one ladder in position and actually reached the parapet the ladder being crushed to pieces just as he stepped off it. This very gallant young officer was last seen defending himself with his revolver. He was killed on the parapet. Though securing the ship was not part of his duties Lieutenant-Commander Bradford climbed up the derrick which carried a large parapet anchor and was rigged out over the port side; during this climb the ship was surging up and down and the derrick crashing on the Mole; waiting his opportunity he jumped with the parapet anchor on to the Mole and placed it in position.
Immediately after hooking on the parapet anchor Lt.Commander Bradford was riddled with bullets from machine guns and fell into the sea between the mole and the ship. Attempts to recover his body failed.
Lt.Commander Bradford's action was one of absolute self-sacrifice; without a moments hesitation he went to certain death recognising that in such action lay the only possible chance of rescuing Ïris 11and enabling her storming party to land.

RESURGAM

Sadsac

[J Banning]

I was at Zeebrugge this week and also popped into Blankenberge to visit the grave of George Nicholson Bradford VC. I also visited the bow of the Vindictive in its 'new' spot on the eastern mole at Ostend. I heard last visited the area in 2005 and it was good to see the bow in such a prominent position.

Photos from my Twitter feed…

https://twitter.com/jbanningww1/status/723818126236880897

https://twitter.com/jbanningww1/status/723818836231884802

https://twitter.com/jbanningww1/status/723819857259728896

https://twitter.com/jbanningww1/status/723821219565461504

[domwalsh]

I was offline on Saturday but was thinking of the gallant men of the 4th Battalion RM who fought at Zeebrugge

[Loader]

I recall an aticle some yrs back in STAND TO! that said this fight was the ONLY time that British Royal Marines fought German Marines ON LAND & face to face. The article featured a German helmet & some other items taken by a 4 RM Bn man who killed a German Marine in hand to hand combat & took the items as souveniers.