Engineer, LEUT W. H. V Edgar, RAN, and 10 ratings from HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), were loaned to a variety of British ships which participated in the British raid to block the canal at Zeebrugge, Belgium.
The object of the raid was to deny the use of the canal to German submarines and destroyers operating in the North Sea. Despite heavy casualties suffered during the raid, none of the Australians were killed or wounded.
The following awards for gallantry were made:-
DSC LEUT W. H. V. Edgar, RAN, (one of only two awarded to an RAN officer in WW I).
DSM LS G. J. Bush.
DSM LS D. J.O. Rudd,(who was later convicted as a mutineer in the 1919 HMAS AUSTRALIA mutiny).
DSM LS G. E. Staples.
MID AB H. J. Gillard.
MID AB L. T. Newlands.
MID Stoker N. J. McCrory (was also awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre as he had previously served in the RANBT at Gallipoli, and the AIF in France, before re-joining the Navy in 1917).
SBLT A. V. Knight, RNR, was awarded the DSC for conspicuous service in the raid to block Ostend Harbour. Knight later served with distinction in minesweepers and landing ships in the RAN, during WWII. He retired as CAPT A. V. Knight, OBE, DSC, US Legion of Honour. The RAN in Britain provided 11 volunteers, Knight and 10 ratings, for the raid on Ostend and Zeebrugge.
