V.C.'S FOR ZEEBRUGGE HEROES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1222, 10 June 1919, Page 2

V.C.'S FOR ZEEBRUGGE HEROES.

GLORIOUS DEATHS AT STORMING OF THE MOLE. The King has approved the posthumous award of two V.C.'s to officers who displayed conspicuous gallantry during the storming of the Mole at Zeebrugge. They are Lieut.-Commander George Nicholson Bradford, R.N., and Lieut.-Commander Arthur Leyland Harrison, R.N. The former was in command of the naval storming parties in Iris 11. He climbed up the derrick which carried the parapet anchor while the ship was surging up and down and the derrick crashing on the Mole. Waiting his opportunity, he jumped with the anchor mi to the Mole and placed it in position. He was riddled with bullets from machine-guns, and fell into the sea between the Mole and the ship. Attempts to recover his body failed. Lieut.-Commander Bradford's action, says the Gazette, was one of absolute self-sacriOce; without a moment's hesitation he went to certain death, recognising that in such action lay the only possible chance of securing Iris 11., and enabling her storming parties to land. Mention is also made by the Gazette of the gallant action of Lieut. Claude E. K. Hawkings, who reached the parapot by means of a ladder before the anchor was in position. The ladder was smashed to pieces as he stepped off it, and he was last seen defending himself with his revolver.