Commander N.D. Holbrook VC

[qprdave]

Commander N.D. Holbrook VC

Died 3rd July 1976

A True hero of the Royal Navy!!

[steve roberts]

Thanks for that Dave.Thats another great submariner entered "On Eternal Patrol"...Regards Steve.:(

[Dreadnought]

Commander N.D. Holbrook VC

Died 3rd July 1976

A True hero of the Royal Navy!!

Couldn't agree more Dave ....


The London Gazette 22 December 1914 (from the Admiralty)

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Norman Douglas Holbrook, Royal Navy for the conspicuous act of bravery specified below: —

For most conspicuous bravery on the 13th December, when in command of the Submarine B.11, he entered the Dardanelles, and, notwithstanding the very difficult current, dived his vessel under five rows of mines and torpedoed the Turkish battleship Messudiyeh, which was guarding the mine-field.

Portrait of Holbrook ( I have already posted this in the submarine thread, but it merits being here as well)
Holbrook on depot ship ... possibly B11 behind him.
Holbrook and crew of B11



Photographs believed to be in public domain. No copright restrictions evident.

[qprdave]

Thanks Clive

It's always good to have a face to the name

Dave

[dennis a feary]

QPR, awards here to Norman Holbrook ;

HOLBROOK Norman D VC Lt. RN 82O022 S/M E.41
Captain (S) 11.08.17 Gazetted
In Submarines 27.06.17 Mentioned in Despatches
Carried out a difficult operation with great coolness and skill on 27th June, 1917.

HOLBROOK Norman D N/E Lt. RN 82O003 S/M B.11
Vice Admiral Carden 22.12.14 Gazetted
For sinking Turkish Battleship "Messudiyeh" 13.12.14 VC
For most conspicuous bravery on the 13th December, 1914, when, in command of the Submarine "B.11" he entered the Dardanelles and notwithstanding the very difficult current dived his vessel under five rows of mines and torpedoed the Turkish battleship "Messudiyeh", which was guarding the minefield.
Lieutenant Holbrook succeeded in bringing the "B.11" safely back although assailed by gunfire and torpedo boats, having been submerged on one occasion for nine hours.

Sadsac

[Bill Forster]

He was evidently a friend of the marine artist Eric Tufnel and served with him on D4 in 1917.

See the photograph of them together in the account of Tufnel's life and career at: http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/Tufnell.html

Bill

[jainso31]

A cracking story of Holbrooke and Venomous Bill,thanks for sharing that with us.:cool:

jainso31

[dennis a feary]

Clive, great pics of Holbrook & B.11 (Post 3).
As QPR writes `always good to have a face to a name' - here follows award to `Jimmy' of B.11.
If the pic of crew of B.11 (P3) is of crew at time of award / voyage then the officer to left of Holbrook (arms folded) is / can be Sydney Winn ??!!

WINN Sydney T N/E Lt. RN 82O003 S/M B.11 Vice Admiral Carden 22.12.14 Gazetted
For sinking Turkish Battleship "Messudiyeh" 13.12.14 DSO
Was second in command of "B.11" on this occasion.

See - Holbrook 82O003
For most conspicuous bravery on the 13th December, 1914, when, in command of the Submarine "B.11" he entered the Dardanelles and notwithstanding the very difficult current dived his vessel under five rows of mines and torpedoed the Turkish battleship "Messudiyeh", which was guarding the minefield.
Lieutenant Holbrook succeeded in bringing the "B.11" safely back although assailed by gunfire and torpedo boats, having been submerged on one occasion for nine hours.

Sadsac

[Bwes]

Commander Holbrook was oviously highly regarded in Australia also. The town of Holbrook NSW being named in his honour. More details at http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/HolbrookNewSouthWalesSubm.html