On this 90th anniversary, this post is in remembrance of all who took part in the raid on Zeebrugge; St George's day 1918.

I would point members to a fine article by Paul Kendall in today's Daily Telegraph

I'd like to make special mention of Lt.-Comm. George Nicholson Bradford VC, whose 31st birthday fell on the day of the raid.

One of the famous Bradford brothers, he was killed on the Mole.

Remembering all who took part in the raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend, and in particular Captain Henry Halahan RN, in command of the naval storming parties, who was killed by machine-gun fire on the foredeck of Vindictive as she came alongside the Mole. Buried at sea off the South Goodwins, 25 April 1918.

Lest we forget the men who twisted the dragon's tail at Zeebrugge on this 90th anniversary of the raid.

St. George's Day 2008

Paul Kendall

In Remembrance of the men of the RN, RMLI and RMA who fell at Zeebrugge Raid on St.-George's Day 1918.
Those who know me, shall not doubt about it that two names especially come to my mind.

One RM remembering...



Admiral Keyes Square Zeebrugge



James G. Ellard of the RMA London Branch

http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/viewtopic.php?t=14052

Photo's made at Zeebrugge 20 April 2008

For next year's remembrance a large scale model will be made of the Zeebrugge Mole as she was in April 1918 so that everybody, and especially the younger generations, will be able to visualise what happened.

On this day Lt.RD Sandford and crew ran the submarine C3,with the forends pack with explosives, under the viaduct.After escape the submarine blew a gap in the viaduct thus preventing German renforcements reaching the mole.For his part in the raid Sandford was awarded the VC and the rest of the volunteer crew of 1officer and 4 ratings,decorated.

As you mention the Bradford family this may be of interest. I have just returned from the Ashcroft VC Exhibition at Spinks - the Bradford brother that survived ... his DSO group was also on show and is being auctioned tomorrow. Had a modest reserve of circa £2000! I expect it will go for a little more.

Remembering those that Fell at Zeebrugge.

'From Trench and Turret' by S. M. Holloway (Constable, London, 2006)
quotes from Private James Feeney RMLI., No.7 Platoon, B Coy., 4th Bn. RM., in The Globe & Laurel, April 1919

"We had all the wounded that could walk with us, and some that could not. Motors took down the latter to the hospital. We could not keep step on account of the heels and toe-plates being off our boots, and we made no sound when marching through the town (Deal). We attempted three times to sing 'take me back to dear old Blighty', but we could never finish it..."

remembering all who returned, and all who did not

My brother and I attended the ceremonies down in Dover this morning; we wanted to pay our repects to those who gave their lives so gallantly during the raid on Zeebrugge. Ours was not a personal mission in as much we are not related to any of the casualties. But we have been researching the young London born able seamen and their names and have become so familiar with us, we felt that we did know them. Amidst the rain high up on the hill in St. James Cemetry we stood and listened to the Last Post and prayers for the fallen of Zeebrugge. Standard bearers lowered flags, dignitaries and military associations placed wreaths around the monument. On return to the town centre, the traffic was halted and at 12 noon as the Zeebrugge bell was rung by the mayor. Again The Last Post was sounded and prayers were said for the gallant heroes of Zeebrugge 1918. Before I began the research, I was one who not aware of what happened on that night. In his memoirs, Lloyd George, the Prime Minster during World War I, wrote: "Every child knows the story of Zeebrugge, the one Naval exploit of the war that moved and still moves the imagination of the Nation." Well I don't think they do, not today,anyway which I think is a sad reflection. There are a few children like the ones I shared the story with when I was teaching and hopefully they will pass on the heroic story to their children. I am also amazed that very few adults know of the Zeebrugge Raid. Even today the turn out was not significantly high, I had expected more representation from the people of Dover. At least some will take heart from the Kohima Prayer:

WHEN YOU GO HOME

TELL THEM OF US AND SAY

FOR YOUR TOMORROW

WE GAVE OUR TODAY

Another year passes, but the raid, its memories and the stories of the brave men who took part remains with us.

Remembering Wing Commander Frank Arthur Brock RAF, who I hadn't heard of this time last year but have read about since.

Remembering the Zeebrugge Raiders on this 91st anniversary.

Remembering all who took part in the raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend on this day 91 years ago. Remembering especially Captain Henry Halahan RN.

Remembering them all.