Special Collections
Create new listThe St George's Day raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend in 1918 may not have turned out as successfully as the Admiralty had hoped, but what is not in doubt is the bravery of those who took part. Many of the individual acts of gallantry read like something out of a Boys' Own annual as the naval and marine contingents battled heavily stacked odds to block the canal entrances at the twin Belgian ports to prevent them being used by German U-boats as a base from which to attack Allied shipping.
The Zeebrugge Raid, in particular, was a remarkably daring enterprise, as naval and marine storming parties landed on the Mole from the Vindictive, Daffodil and Iris to act as a diversion while block ships filled with concrete were sailed into the canal entrance and sunk. Casualties were heavy and such was the bravery of all those involved aboard the three vessels that Article 13 of the Victoria Cross warrant was invoked. This stipulates that, when a corps or unit so distinguishes itself as to make it impossible to single out individuals, crosses should be awarded by a ballot of those who survived. Two VCs were awarded to the Royal Marines by this method and another two to the naval personnel. In the case of the naval contingent, the highest number of votes went to Captain Carpenter, the commander of the Vindictive, and AB McKenzie, who was among those who stormed the Mole.
Under Article 13, all those who did not receive the VC had their records of service annotated to the effect that they had participated in the ballot for the VC. This applied to all those who crossed to Zeebrugge on the Vindictive, Daffodil and Iris, whether they were killed, wounded or survived.
Four: Petty Officer S. F. Brown, Royal Navy, served on H.M.S. Carnarvon at the battle of the Falkland Islands and served on H.M.S. Vindictive in the Zeebrugge Raid, participating in the V.C. ballot for the latter action
1914-15 Star (J.28442 A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.28442 L.S., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J.28442 P.O., H.M.S. Pembroke) mounted as worn, contact marks, fine and better (5) £300-400
This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals relating to the Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids, 1918.
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Sidney Frederick Brown was born in Islington, London on 22 November 1896. Entering the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in March 1913, he was promoted to Boy 1st Class in February 1914. He served on the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Carnarvon, October 1914-February 1918, being promoted to Ordinary Seaman in November 1914; Able Seaman in November 1915 and Leading Seaman in November 1917. Brown was on the Carnarvon at the battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914. The ship was in the process of coaling when the German East Asia Squadron commanded by Admiral Graf Maximillian von Spee appeared off the Falkland Islands and the ship was slow in the pursuit as the Germans tried to make their escape. She caught up with the British battlecruisers shortly before the Scharnhorst rolled over and capsized. She then engaged the doomed Gneisenau until ordered to cease fire, the ship being scuttled. Carnarvon managed to rescue 20 men from the Gneisenau but sadly none from her sister ship.
Leading Seaman Brown was based at Pembroke I, March-November 1918 but served aboard H.M.S. Vindictive in the Zeebrugge Raid, April 1918. His papers record that he participated in the ballot for a V.C. for operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend.
Brown was promoted to Petty Officer in June 1919. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1929. Invalided due to asthma, 6 August 1930. With copied service papers and other research. With identity disk, ‘Brown No. J.28442 A.B. Presb.’
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