The Zeebrugge and Ostend Raid 1918

[cissystar650]

Whilst looking at the Royal Naval Museum's website in advance of a planned trip there with my son during Half term... I came across the list of anniversaries coming up. Turns out we missed this one by a week (was on 24January) but its an interesting story. Especially the bit about the planned smokescreen not working because of unexpected winds... surely someone would have thought of that?

The article:

Battles: The Raid on Zeebrugge, 1918


Planned to neutralise the key Belgian ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend, both used by the German Navy as a base for submarines and light shipping, the Raid on Zeebrugge was launched early on the morning of 23 April 1918.

The raid was originally proposed by British First Sea Lord, Sir John Jellicoe, shortly before his abrupt dismissal at the close of 1917 (as a consequence of his ongoing reluctance to back First Lord of the Admiralty Sir Eric Geddes' convoy policy).

Jellicoe gained acceptance of an attack in principle - actually formulated by Dover port commander Sir Roger Keyes - by stating to the cabinet his view that Britain's continuing ability to wage war depended upon blocking the exits from both ports, and thus denying German submarines convenient bases.

Thus the Zeebrugge raid was planned in much secrecy and conducted (in part by a volunteer force) by 75 ships following its formal approval by the British Admiralty in February 1918.

The main force of the attack was to be at Zeebrugge, with a smaller offensive launched against Ostend. In preparation for both however the elderly British cruiser Vindictive was used to land 200 troops at the entrance to the Bruges Canal (at the mile-long Zeebrugge mole), in order that they could destroy its formidable shore batteries.

The operation began badly however. The prepared smokescreen to cover the Vindictive as it landed its troop contents proved ineffective in the face of unexpected winds.

Under crippling fire the old cruiser moored in the wrong location, its guns effectively out of action. However an old submarine did destroy the mole connecting the bridge to the shore after it exploded containing explosives.

The loss of the Vindictive's guns was significant: without their crucial support the shore batteries remained untaken. In turn their sustained fire also disabled a further three ancient British cruisers - Thetis, Iphigenia and Intrepid - packed with concrete and which had moved into the inner harbour, preventing them from halting and scuttling themselves in their correct pre-assigned locations at the narrow entrance to the canal.

If the raid upon Zeebrugge produced initially unclear results, the smaller attack upon Ostend was an unequivocal failure however. Two old cruisers, intended as blockships, failed to reach the harbour entrance. A subsequent attempt made to cripple Ostend similarly failed on 9 May.

Represented at the time as a tremendous British victory by Allied propaganda (with the consequence that its devisor Sir Roger Keyes was ennobled), and by the Germans as a demonstration of their success in holding each port, the Zeebrugge raid did not in reality hinder German operations from either port for more than a few days.

Some 500 British casualties were incurred during the operation (of which approximately 200 were fatalities). A total of eight Victoria Crosses were awarded for the night's action.

[tomsam]

Hi Cissy.
It was indeed an unfortunate collection of errors and unforseen circumstances. I Have included a picture of one of the subs involved, an old "C" class boat. Her captain..Richard Douglas Sanford managed as you say to complete his mission and for which he recieved the VC.I have also included a picture of the three prematurely scuttled ships.
Tomsam

[herakles]

Thanks cissy, that was a most interesting read.

I can appreciate the significance of the attack and the value it would have achieved.

It does strike me that the timing of the action was not appropriate. By April 1918 our land forces were gaining much ground, the Hindenburg line had been broken and Germany's fate was looking more likely.

The disastrous breakthrough the Germans achieved in the previous year by breaking through the weak gap between the 3rd and 5th armies, had been stopped, just when it looked possible our forces would have been driven back toward Zeebrugge and Ostend.

I have a memory that Haig played a significant role in the planning of this raid. Perhaps someone else could expand on this.

[Batstiger]

Here's another picture of the C.3 and another of the AE.2 for Herk.

[herakles]

Thank you Bob. I think that's the best AE2 pic I've ever seen.

[romft1945]

Catching up on the new threads.Thanks cissy that was interesting reading well done,
ROM

[tone]

Whilst looking at the Royal Naval Museum's website in advance of a planned trip there with my son during Half term... I came across the list of anniversaries coming up. Turns out we missed this one by a week (was on 24January) but its an interesting story. Especially the bit about the planned smokescreen not working because of unexpected winds... surely someone would have thought of that?


One can never expect the unexpected.

tone

[astraltrader]

Interesting account Cissy.
The bows of the poor old Vindictive are still preserved at Ostend as a war memorial. Out of the high number of British casualties you mentioned a high percentage of them were Royal Marines. In memory to the battalion used there has never since been a RM Battalion numbered 4. Finally out of the 8 recipients of the VC you mentioned, half of them were awarded by ballot.

[Domwalsh]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum (though am a regular on Great War Forum). I am researching the role of the Royal Marines in the famous St George's Day raid with a view to writing a book. I am trying to compile a potted biography of each man with, where possible, a photo. I would love to hear from anyone who can help. Equally, I have a wealth of material: books, reports, photos, medals, badges, newspaper cuttings etc and would be happy to help others with researching relatives and the like. I have loads of info on both RN and RM personnel so fee free to try me on any aspect.
Best regards,
Dom

[herakles]

You are very welcome Domwalsh.

I am sure your collection will be of great interest to other members.

[Domwalsh]

Thanks Herakles. Here's a chap whose career I have researched. Surgeon Henry Colson RN. MID and specially promoted for the Zeebrugge raid 1918 and later medical director general of the navy and knighted.

[Harley]

Alas, Dom, I saw your post on the Great War forum. Sorry to hear about the loss of your notes &c.

Have you got "From Trench to Turret", a collection of RM recollections from the Great War? It's a fairly recent It has a number of interesting accounts from Zeebrugge and also Ostende.

A small biography of every man would certainly be interesting. I'm currently assembling biographical details on every flag officer and captain in the RN during the Great War - finally I've got nearly every admiral sorted (difficult without access to Kew or Navy Lists!). I wish you every luck with your project.

Harley

[Domwalsh]

Hi Harley,
Yes I've got that very interesting booklet. Good luck with your own project. Have you got much on Admiral HH Bousfield? My father has his medals and a small amount of info including Times obit and a photo of sorts from a Times article.
Best regards,
Dom

[Harley]

Not too much really aside from a mass of dates; I have The Times obituary as well, which will give you any of the details missing from this.

On 16 April 1908 he was appointed Midshipman in HMS Triumph. 17 March 1909 he was attached to HMS Victory for duty at the RN Barracks, Portsmuth. He was prmoted to Sub-Lieutenant on 30 March 1910. On 26 July, 1910 he was appointed to the protected cruiser HMS St. George. 31 October, 1911 he was appointed to join HMS Maori. On 5 February he was appointed to the Dryad to qualify in Navigation. In July, 1924, while serving as War Staff Officer in the Atlantic Fleet Flagship, Queen Elizabeth he was promoted Commander. On 8 September, 1930 he was reappointed to HMS Queen Elizabeth (this time Flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet) as Executive Officer, after two years as Staff Officer (Operations) to the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet in HMS Nelson.

Promoted Captain (30th June, 1931), on 4 September, 1931 Bousfield was appointed to the large China gunboat Bee to take command, and also to act as Chief Staff Officer to the Rear-Admiral and Senior Naval Officer on the Yangstze Squadron (12 ships no less). His appointment as CSO ended on 8 October, 1933 when he was relieved by Captain C.A.A. Larcom. On 16 January, 1934 he started the course at the Imperial Defence College. 14 January, 1935 he was appointed to take the Senior Officers' Technical Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich then reappointed to take the Senior Officers' War Course on 25 February. The Course began 18 March and ended on 26 July. Consequently on 15 August he became Captain at the RNC, Greenwich (Second in Command). On 17 January, 1938 Bousfield took command of the new cruiser HMS Manchester, fitting out at Hebburn-on-Tyne. He commissioned her on 3 August, 1938 and then took her out to the East Indies Station, replacing HMS Enterprise.

Harley

[caulfieldj]

Hello Domwalsh. I have just discovered my grandfather's (Allan Gordon Roxburgh, Engine Room Artificer) role in the St. George's Day Raid on Zeebrugge. I also believe he was the one who created the gyromagnetic device that if things had gone as planned would have guided the C3 into the harbor. I have a photo of my grandfather in his Royal Navy uniform.

[RCN]

Hello Domwalsh. I have just discovered my grandfather's (Allan Gordon Roxburgh, Engine Room Artificer) role in the St. George's Day Raid on Zeebrugge. I also believe he was the one who created the gyromagnetic device that if things had gone as planned would have guided the C3 into the harbor. I have a photo of my grandfather in his Royal Navy uniform.

ERA Roxburgh won the CGM (Conspoicuous Gallantry medal) for Zeebrugge. He was among the crew of 5 (1 Officer, 4 ratings) of C3 that day.

The Commanding officer was Sandford (who won the VC), & crew members, all of whom won the CGM, were Bendall, Cleaver, Harner, & Roxburgh.
The medals for three of the ratings are in the RN Sub museum, & when I visited the museum two summers ago was able to get a photo of them. I am doing this from my head as unable to locate my notes, but think Roxburgh's medals are the set that the museum do not have,

Love to see the photo of Roxburgh if you might post it,

Bryan (in Canada)

[RCN]

I will try to post the medal photos mentioned in my post above.

Bryan

[historydavid]

Hello Dom,

I have 111 names, ranks & numbers of RM fallen at Zeebrugge, including one nom-de-plume from Admiralty death records.

If of interest contact me thro' GWF and let me have an email address.

[seaJane]

Hallo there Dom; we meet again!

Would you be interested in an article from the Journal of the RN Medical Service concerning the medical arrangements on the Zeebrugge Raid? I've only just been able to track it down unfortunately.

If so let me know and I will post it; on Monday, because I am on a week's leave at present.

(sea)Jane (INM)

[historydavid]

Nice to see you get around seajane.

[seaJane]

I'm being followed! ;)

Put it down to the thrill of a new discovery, historydavid. Besides, I spend a week in (almost) every month sharing an office with the RM historian in the Naval Historical Branch, so I would have spotted this thread in any case.

[astraltrader]

Two pictures I have seen that relate to this thread...

[historydavid]

Hek, I don't understand your comment about the timing.

Despite the success of the browns at that time it took another 6 to 7 months to get the job finished.

Meawhile German U-boats were sinking almost every ship they came across, causing the country to run short of food and war materials. So something had to be done. It is just a pity that the effort was wasted.

[HMS Bergamot]

Gentlemen, the effort was NOT wasted. It is an old axiom that says the further from the front that a flank attack takes place, the longer for its effect to be felt, but the greater that effect will be.

I personally credit the total collapse of German forces on the western front on these raids. The loss of morale, the withdrawal of units to cover the interior, these were all consequences of these raids. The original aim, to bottle up the Flanders flotilla in its base, probably failed over the long term, but the ending of the war? What a consequence!

:rolleyes:

[historydavid]

Berg, that is really streeeeeeeeeeeeetching things.

The raids were made for naval & merchant ships benefit and had nothing to do with the army.

Why should the morale of the Germans have been lossed due to the raids, when they did not succeed in their objectives, and the Germans claimed a success?

The fall in German army morale had more to do with what they found when they had pushed the front line forward and found that British troops were supplied with food and equipment that they could only dream about.

[HMS Bergamot]

The things you find when you go a-rummaging!!

Regards

[herakles]

The fall in German army morale had more to do with what they found when they had pushed the front line forward and found that British troops were supplied with food and equipment that they could only dream about.

This is correct. The huge push east by the Germans faulted when they ran into the British supplies. Then it failed because of the Australians thrashing them at Villers.

[Robert McDougall]

Don't forget that the German navy morale was very low indeed. Every time they sailed only as far as their minefields, then turned back to harbour. As time went on the good officers were being drafted off the capital ships, and idiots to replace them. The lower deck were really fed up with this. The standard of rations were really poor by then. They did end up by mutining.

[astraltrader]

They were also greatly influenced by the collapse of the Russian Eastern front and the effect the revolution had on Russia. There was a political knock on effect that was particularly felt amongst German soldiers and workers...

[Joseph]

As an add on, this is the results of one of the Ballots for the Royal marines.

Regards Charles

[astraltrader]

Here is a postcard I have got that shows the mark 1 7.5 inch howitzer that was employed on HMS Vindictive during the raid on Zebrugge on 23rd April 1918...

[astraltrader]

I have just bought the original postcard of the picture I posted in post #9 of HMS Thetis - sunk at Zebrugge so I thought I would upload it here.

[NIGELPETER]

Hi, I am a new member. I would dearly like some information about the ship my Grandfather was on during the above raid and for his part he was awarded the D.S.M. He was on a minesweeper 1n 1917 operating between Southwold and Sheringham. His ship was used to sweep ahead of H.M.S Vindictive which was the block ship during the Zeebrugge Raid. My 10 year old Grandson is doing a project on this at school and any information would be of great help. Obviously he is very proud of his Great Great Grandfather and I am doing what I can with the knowledge I have to pass it down to the younger members of our family. Regards Nigel

[navalis]

What was your grandfather's name? it would help to find the citation, which may give some more info.

[navalis]

...or if you know the name of the ship he was serving on...?

[astraltrader]

A postcard of Minesweepers used at Zeebrugge.

[BarbaraAnderson]

Anyone with ancestors involved with above?
My great uncle Captain Sidney Greville West DSC, OBE, RN got his DSC here.
Did anyone else involved put brush to the painting by W.L. Wyllie and was given a miniature?
Large painting was at the Royal Exchange but has since disappeared.
Miniature in family.
painting in attachment.

[BarbaraAnderson]

Hello Domwalsh. I have just discovered my grandfather's (Allan Gordon Roxburgh, Engine Room Artificer) role in the St. George's Day Raid on Zeebrugge. I also believe he was the one who created the gyromagnetic device that if things had gone as planned would have guided the C3 into the harbor. I have a photo of my grandfather in his Royal Navy uniform.

My great uncle Sid Greville West was Engineer Officer in that raid.
His task was to set the time bomb that blew up one of the blockships 'Iphigenia' He was awarded DSC for leaving at very last moment.
Family are searching for the painting of the raid by W.L.Wyllie - it was in the Royal Exchange but disappeared when made into shopping centre.
Barbara West that was

[Don Boyer]

Hi, Barbara: I have no special expertise in Zeebrugge events, but I think you should check the Royal Navy Ships and Crews Section of the forumfor the thread on "Zeebrugge 1918" by domwalsh. He obviously has exactly the type of material you are looking for, and you may be able to help him out in return. I would give his post a look and reply or PM to him.

Regards,

[dennis a feary]

DOM, welcome to THIS Forum. As to `your' COLSON find here his award of promotion to Staff Surgeon for his duties in Zeebrugge Raid. You probably have got but I put here `in case' ;

COLSON Henry St. C MB Surgeon RN 79D077 Vindictive
Vice Admiral Dover Patrol 21.05.18 Gazetted
Operations on Belgian Coast 23.04.18 (Zeebrugge & Ostend)
To be Staff Surgeon R.N. to date 23.04.18
Attached to the Royal Marine Storming Party. Major Weller reports that this officer worked under the greatest disadvantage, often in gas fumes, and by the light of only a torch. In these conditions he carried on for many hours and displayed the utmost devotion to duty. The Captain of Vindictive and Staff Surgeon McCutheon report that Surgeon Colson was also of the greatest assistance in dealing with seaman cases when not employed attending to Marines, and that his work was most valuable.

Sadsac

[astraltrader]

Thanks Don - threads merged...

[dennis a feary]

Hello, wondered when / if TERRY would do his `merging bit' - well done him.
BARBARA - Believe this to be `your' West. Here is his award for services in IPHINGENIA - thats a mouthful to say / pronounce - wonder if someone will try to write it phonetically ??!!

WEST Sydney G N/E Mate(E) RN 79D094 Iphingenia
Vice Admiral Dover Patrol 23.07.18 & 21.05.18 Gazetted
Operations on Belgian Coast 23.04.18 DSC & Noted for early Promotion Throughout the preperations and operations he worked his department in an admirable manner. After the alarm bell for blowing the charges been rung he returned to the engine room in order to start the engines ahead, and did not finally leave till he received an order from the Commanding Officer to do so. He was thus of great assistance in the accurate placing of this blocking-ship.

DOM - have many more such for VINDICTIVE / Zeebrugge if you wish.

Sadsac

[qprdave]

Here is the full report on the Raid on Zeebrugge as publish by The Times on 20th February 1919

[BarbaraAnderson]

Thanks Don,
Will do
Barbara

[BarbaraAnderson]

Thanks a million for that
Barbara

[Dreadnought]

The Plan

It has been quoted that the raid on Zeebrugge “constituted the most brilliant feat of arms which has ever been accomplished by a naval force”. “The Royal Navy reached the highest possible summit of determination, daring and heroism”.

Captain Carpenter V.C., R.N, Commander of HMS Vindictive in the raid, is quoted as saying in an interview “ Some people have called this affair audacious. That is not the word I should use; the word is ‘impertinent’.”

The ‘Armada’ of 168 vessels that took part in the raid included smoke spreading motor launches, motor boats, ferry boats, antiquated submarines, obsolete cruisers, the old Vindictive stripped mastless, and sheathed in sandbags. Carpenter called it a “sea circus”. The fleet actually comprised:

8 monitors
8 light cruisers
7 scout ships
45 destroyers
62 motor launches
24 coastal motor boats
5 blockships
2 submarines
7 miscellaneous craft

There were also 5 French torpedo boats and 4 motor launches

(numbers include the attacking force and their supports and reserves)

The main points of the plan drawn up by the Admiralty were to be:

After making crossing the Channel, the expedition was to stop for a few minutes within twenty miles of the coast; then the approach was to begin, covered by the systematic bombardment of the coast by aircraft and the long range fire of the monitors as a diversion.

Towards the end of the bombardment, the ships carrying the storming parties (Vindictive, Iris and Daffodil) were to steam in close to the breakwater and come along it’s seaward face at midnight. The storming parties were to land at once and destroy what they could.

This was the main diversion. A few minutes afterwards the submarines (C1 and C3) were to blow up the steel viaduct to prevent reinforcements reaching the breakwater.

Twenty minutes later after the attacking vessels had got alongside, the three blockships were to enter the harbour and make straight for the entrance of the canal. HMS Thetis was to smash the lock gates and Intrepid and Iphigenia were to be sunk across the canal exactly opposite the sandhills, where the channel was the narrowest. This was the main objective.

All did not quite go according to the plan.


Postcards and photographs from my personal collection

[Dreadnought]

Storming of the Mole

On the afternoon of April 23rd, St.Georges Day, HMS Warwick flying the flag of Admiral Sir Roger Keyes gave the signal “St. George for England”. Captain Carpenter responded “May we give the dragon’s tail a dammed good twist”.

The planned air bombardment was not forthcoming due to rain, but just after midnight Vindictive came alongside the breakwater despite coming under intense bombardment from the battery at the end. Carpenter said “the German guns were pumping shell into my ship”. Amidst the storm of shells and machine gun bullets, and the glare of searchlights, about 350 sailors and marines managed to get ashore. The objective now, to silence the battery of three six-inch guns at the end of the breakwater which would have prevented the blockships from entering the harbour. Without going into detail about the fighting on the breakwater, it is sufficient to say that it was intense, with sixty percent of the force being killed or wounded.


Postcards and photographs from my personal collection

[Dreadnought]

Submarine C3 goes into Action

The second event of the battle was the action of submarine C3, commanded by Lieutenant Richard D. Sandford. Having been towed close to the coast, C3, packed with dynamite, set off towards the viaduct just before midnight, under cover of an artificial fog screen. The plan was to set the submarine on course for the viaduct using the gyroscopic compass, and then abandon her. However, Sandford wanted to be absolutely sure of success, so instead, he took the boat right in and smashed into the viaduct at full speed, forcing her way between the pillars as far as the conning tower. The six minute fuse was then started and Sanford and his crew launched their motor dinghy and pushed off. Unfortunately, the motor had been disabled by a shell and they had to row away against the tide, and, under fire from German machine guns. They were only 250 yards away from the viaduct when the 6 tons of high explosive detonated, destroying 150 feet of the pier. Four of the six in the dinghy were wounded, but they were all safely picked up.

Carpenter said “Many miracles happened that night, but nothing was more miraculous than the escape of these two officers and four men.”


Postcards and photographs from my personal collection.

[Dreadnought]

The Main Operation: Blocking the Canal

At twenty minutes past midnight, the blockships Thetis, Intrepid and Iphigenia, entered the harbour. Thetis, firing all her guns, headed straight for the boom. Three hundred yards from the jetties, she stopped as her propellers became fouled by the nets that had been dragged off the boom. By this time Thetis had been hit all over by shells and bullets and was on fire in several places. At half past midnight, she was sunk in the outer channel.

One after another, Intrepid and Iphigenia slipped past Thetis and managed to get right into the entrance of the canal. Both ships were successfully sunk in positions that enabled the complete blocking of the channel. The crews were picked up by motor launches.

At ten minutes before one o’clock in the morning, seeing that the object of the whole operation had been attained, Captain Carpenter gave the signal for the landing party to retire. The troops returned back on board, bringing with them nearly all the killed and wounded..

The whole fleet set off back to Dover. Only the Destroyer North Star and two motor launches were reported missing.

The strength of the expedition was 82 officers and 1698 men, all volunteers. The losses were heavy.

The Navy lost 11 officers and 79 men. 17 officers and 150 men were wounded, and 21 men were missing.

The Marines lost 8 officers and 96 men. 11 officers and 205 men were wounded, and 13 men were missing. 2 marines were taken prisoner.


According to the testimony of eye-witnesses, nothing could surpass the grandeur and terror of those minutes while the attack on Zeebrugge lasted. One of the most admirable exploits of the Royal Navy.


Postcards and photographs from my personal collection. Photos of SS Brussels included only to show some aspects of the Mole. Niether the Brussesl or Captain Fryatt took part in the Zeebrugge raid. The Germans captured and sunk the Brussels at the entrance to Zeebrugge some months afterwards. For more information regarding Captain Fryatt and SS Brussels see Terry's thread http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17090&highlight=zeebrugge#post17090

[Dreadnought]

Honours: Zeebrugge & Ostend

In the raid on Zeebrugge, and later on Ostend, eleven men won the Victoria Cross, 21 the DSO, and 29 the DSC. Many other awards were also won.

Victoria Crosses were awarded to:

Commander (Acting Captain) Alfred Blakeney Carpenter RN. In command of HMS Vindictive.
Lieutenant Richard Douglas Sandford RN. In command of submarine C3.
Lieutenant Percy Thompson Dean RNVR. Motor Launch ML282.
Captain Edward Bamford DSO RMLI. In command of Marine storming force.
Serjeant Norman Augustus Finch RMA. Second in command of pom-poms and Lewis guns in the foretop of HMS Vindictive.
Able Seaman Albert Edward McKenzie. B Company of the seaman storming force.
Lieutenant Commander George Hicolson Bradford RN. In Command of naval storming parties on Iris II.
Lieutenant Commander Arthur Leyland Harrison RN. In command of Naval storming parties on Vindictive.
Lieutenant Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley DSC RN. Officer on HMS Brilliant during unsuccessful attempt to block Ostend.
Lieutenant Commander Geofrey Heneage Drummond RNVR. Motor Launch ML254.
Lieutenant Commander Roland Bourke RNVR. In command of Motor Launch ML276.

[Harley]

I've just been reading Paul Kendall's book on the British side of Zeebrugge and re-reading Mark Karau's materiel on the German aspect. I cannot get my head round the massive difference between British and German casualties. 227 killed and 356 wounded for the British, yet somehow Von Schroder was able to report that only 8 Germans were killed and 16 wounded.

That suggests either that the scene on "Vindictive" and the mole was just pure slaughter, or that the Germans were lying. Any views?

Simon

P.S. I should also point out that there were at least a number of men from the Grand Fleet who were "ordered" to volunteer, so not everyone was a volunteer at Zeebrugge.

[astraltrader]

An excellent account of the raid if you can get hold of a copy is the Blocking of Zeebrugge, a first hand account by Captain A.F.B Carpenter.VC,

first published by Herbert Jenkins Ltd in 1919.

It comes with many photographs, maps, sketches, and engravings.

A few of the photographs I include here.

[Rob Hoole]

These photos came from Rodney Barton who lives at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight and show his grandfather's involvement as a naval diver in Ostend at the end of the First World War. He helped salvage HMS Vindictive, sunk as a blockship on 10 May 1918 during the Second Ostend Raid.

http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Ostend%201918%20a%20med.jpg (http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Ostend%201918%20a.jpg) http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Ostend%201919%20med.jpg (http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Ostend%201919.jpg)
Left: HMS Vindictive after her salvage
Right: RN salvage team in 1919 with Rodney's grandfather wearing a white cap cover

http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Ostend%201918%20b%20med.jpg (http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Ostend%201918%20b.jpg)
Rodney's grandfather in standard diving dress in 1918

Those who have visited the Belgian and Netherlands NATO Minewarfare School (Ecole de Guerre des Mines - EGUERMIN) at Ostend will have seen the upper part of HMS Vindictive's bow in the adjacent park.

http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/HMS%20Vindictive%20Memorial%20med.jpg
HMS Vindictive Memorial at Ostend

[Geoff1959]

My Grandfather George Henry SERLE was transferred on refielf to HMS Thetis (he was an acting warrant writer). I have found some information and pictures of the Thetis. The Thetis was sunk as a block ship on 23rd April 1918 at the entrance to Zeebrugge. Any further information and pictures of the crew would be much appreciated.

[astraltrader]

Welcome to the forum Geoff.

We have an existing thread you might care to examine that deals with the Zebrugge raid and makes reference to the involvement of Thetis. :)

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892&highlight=THETIS

.