Commemorative Plaque for the Zeebrugge Raid 1918. A near rectangular plaque, by Pieter de...

Commemorative Plaque for the Zeebrugge Raid 1918. A near rectangular plaque, by Pieter de Soete, 81mm x 42mm, bronze, the obverse featuring Victory rising from a cloud, St George slaying the dragon in the background, ‘Zeebrugge on St. George’s Day. April 23d. 1918’ at base; the reverse inscribed ‘To six very gallant Gentlemen: Lt. R. D. Sandford, V.C., R.N., Lt. J. Howell-Price, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.R., Sto. H. C. Bendall, C.G.M., Ldg. Sea. W. G. Cleaver, C.G.M., D.S.M., Petty Officer W. Harner, C.G.M., E.R.A. A. G. Roxburgh, C.G.M. 1918-1927’, in Fisch, Brussels, card box of issue, good very fine £100-£140 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- London Gazette 23 July 1918: Honours for Services in the Operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of the 22nd-23rd April 1918: V.C.: Lieutenant Richard Douglas Sandford, R.N. ‘For most conspicuous gallantry. This officer was in command of submarine C.3, and most skilfully placed that vessel in between the piles of the viaduct before lighting her fuse and abandoning her. He eagerly undertook this hazardous enterprise, although well aware (as were all his crew) that if the means of rescue failed and he or any of his crew were in the water at the moment of the explosion, they would be killed outright by the force of such explosion. Yet Lieutenant Sandford disdained to use the gyro steering, which would have enabled him and his crew to abandon the submarine at a safe distance, and preferred to make sure, as far as was humanly possible, of the accomplishment of his duty.’ D.S.O.: Lieutenant John Howell-Price, D.S.C., R.N.R. ‘His assistance in placing Submarine C.3 between the piles of the viaduct before the fuse was lighted and she was abandoned was invaluable. His behaviour in a position of extreme danger was exemplary.’ C.G.M.: Stoker 1st Class Henry Cullis Bendall; Petty Officer Waler Harner; Leading Seaman William Gladstone Cleaver; and Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Allan Gordon Roxburgh: ‘These four ratings were members of the crew of the Submarine C.3, which was skilfully placed between the piles of the Zeebrugge mole viaduct and there blown up, the fuse being lighted before the submarine was abandoned. They volunteered for and, under the command of an officer, eagerly undertook this hazardous enterprise, although they were well aware that if the means of rescue failed, and that if any of them were in the water at the time of the explosion, they would be killed outright.’ The above plaque commemorated the exploits of the crew of the submarine C.3 during the attack on the heavily fortified Mole at Zeebrugge, Belgium, on St. George’s Day, 23 April 1918. C.3’s role was to destroy the railway viaduct connecting the Mole with the main land installations. Towed by H.M.S. Trident, the C.3 moored alongside her objective under very heavy fire. The six man crew (all of whom were decorated for their gallantry) abandoned the submarine, making use of a motor skiff which had been installed on the vessel. At 12:20 a.m. on 23 April 1918 the C.3’s packed cargo of high explosives was detonated leaving a 100 foot gap in the viaduct.