- Author
- Loxton, Bruce, Commodore, RAN Rtd
- Subjects
- History - WW1, WWI operations, Letter to the Editor
- Tags
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- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- December 1998 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
In the last issue of the Review you published my request for information regarding R.A.N. participation in the raid on Zeebrugge in 1918. Lieutenant Colonel John Bullen of Canberra was quick off the mark in providing the following and I am deeply grateful to him.
The officer and ten men all came from Australia then serving with the Grand Fleet. Appendix 25 to The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18, Vol IX published in 1918 by Angus and Robertson lists them as follows:
- Engineer Lieutenant W.H.V., Edgar R.A.N., a native of Dunedin N.Z. was Engineer Officer of the Ferry Iris. Barrie Pitt in his book “Zeebrugge” vividly describes her ordeal that night and particularly how “aft of the main hatches a cursing, bloody minded Australian was exhibiting typical disregard for enemy intentions” Edgar was carrying out repairs to damaged smoke canisters under very heavy fire,, fortunately with success for the ship suddenly disappeared behind her own smoke and made her escape to sea though not before she had received further heavy damage. For his efforts Edgar received the D.S.C. – the only one earned by an RAN officer during that War.
- Leading Seaman G.J. Bush, D.S.M., Leading Seaman D.J.O. Rudd, D.S.M., Able Seaman H.J. Gillard, Able Seaman L.T. Newland, and Leading Seaman G.E. Staples, D.S.M. were members of the storming party embarked in Vindictive. All made it on to the Mole and back again.
- Leading Stoker W .J. Bourke, Leading Stoker R. Hopkins, Leading Stoker G.J. Lockard, Leading Stoker N.J. McCrory and Leading Stoker J. Strong all joined the block ship Thetis and were withdrawn without suffering any casualties by M.L. when she was scuttled in the entrance to the Zeebrugge canal.