HEROES OF ZEEBRUGGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19040, 10 June 1925, Page 11

HEROES OF ZEEBRUGGE.

THE DRAG ON |S TWISTED TA;IL< THE EPIC OF THE MOLE. J NAVY'S HOUR OF TRIUMPH,; [FKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , ■ , LONDON, A pi. 30. At the •; unveiling of ti;o Zeebrugge mepiorial by the King of the Belgians on April 23 ilie survivors of the raids on Ostend and. Zeebrugge were selected to represent different branches and crafts of the Navy. The mechanics of the Coastal motor-boats during the war were largely recruited from New Zealand and Canada, and so only a few of them were able to be present, as most of them have returned to their respective countries. Ex-C.MIM.' E. J. Knell, of New Zealand, was tho sole representative of ,tho "C.M.8." mechanics, and no doubt his comrades in New Zealand will be very pleased to know that they were so well represented.' Mr. Knell states that the journey between Dover and Zeebrugge was made in H.M.S. Calcdon, a light cruiser; and he was - immensely struck with the hearty reception given to the survivors at Dover.

Tho Caledon is the only ship now in commission in which the Y ictoria Cross -has been won—in tho Heligoland Bight, 1917. On the present occasion there were on board four who won tho coveted honour for gallantry at Zeebrtigge—Captain A. F. 13. Carpenter, who commanded the Vindictive; Lieut.-Commander Percy Dean, of M.L. 526, who brought off the survivors from the block ships; Major E. Bamford, in charge of the marine landing party; and Sergeant N. A, Finch, who, high in tho Viudictivo's foretop, continued to work the pom-pom when every other niau of the gun-team had been laid out.

The King of the Belgians unveiled tho memorial to the men of the British Navy who, in the first dark hours of April 23, 1918,- locked the Zeebrugge mouth of the canal-which had served the-'Germans; as their principal submarine base, an exploit at which all the world wondered. A Most Daring Enterprise. , Of Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes tho King spoke, as possessing "the bra very, of a sailor and .the qualities of au accomplished warrior, under whose leadership the most daring enterprise may be attempted. " To Captain Carpenter, V.C., who commanded the Vinactive, was also paid a stirring tribute. Captain E. H. Sandford, <D.S.O., bowed his head as tho Kirig recalled the superb gallantry of that other Sandford who took the submarine C 3 through the .whole of the hail of shell to wreck on the viaduct joining the Mole to the shore, Captain' Bonham* Carter, Major E. Bamford, V.C., Lieut.Commander Dean,- V.C., who commanded the M.L., 526, all had their share of praise. • The memorial, which stands in tlia square at the end of the viaduct, is made of solid granite. Seventy feet high,, it is surmounted by a figure of St. George : in combat with the dragon. Tho names of the ships-which took part in the expedition are engraved upon the pillar. Upon the seaward face is told in a .single brief inscription the story of that historic Zeebrugge -exploit: " Every moment had its deed and every deed , its hero." .Belgium, has honoured these heroes. Her people have contributed generously to this memorial and they have put it up whera all who, pass Zeebrugge by sea or land may see it.. Both in the Zeebrugge Survivors' badge, issued for the first time and pinned by Queen Elizabeth to tho lapel of King Albert's jacket, and on the memorial here at' Zeebrugge, the figure of the dragon, appears prominently. And therein .• lies a story. When the expedition was setting, out Vice-Admiral Keyes signalled to hia command a* heartening message': " St.' George for England." Captain Carpenter, V.C., commanding the Vindictive; replied: "And may we give tho dragon's tail a. good twisting." On the survivors' badgei [ the dragon's tail has a very nasty twist indeed.

" A Solemn Bomago." In the course of his speech, the King of. the Belgians, after rocouiii.ing the history o£ the expedition, saicl: " It is with a feeling of* deep emotion and pleasure that the Belgians have welcomed this ' ceremony, as it was to give them the chance of having among them so large a number of all ranks who took part in the historical exploit achieved .at Zeebruggo. Commanded by a leader who served with the greatest distinction in several thcalrcw of" operation, and in company with those gallant souls who did not live- to see tho success of their endeavours, you gave here, on St., George's Day, 1918, .the actual death-stroke to the German submarine campaign. This memorable feat of_ arms will undoubtedly rank among the highest records of the British Navy. It is worthy of an institution that has never ceased through, a series of centuries to maintain at the highest stand the- traditions of military virtues" which constitute the solidity and strength of nations," King Albert contributed £SOO to the fund lor the memorial. ,

Lady Keyes' Heminder. " I have made the discovery/' said Lord Burnham, president of the AngloBelgian Union, "that wo owe the Byiichronisation of St. George's Day with this, great feat of arms, not to Sir Roger Keyes, bufc to Lady Keyes. As you know, this was not tho first time that Sir Roger had made an attack on the Belgian coast, but as lie was about to set out on this historic occasion, Lady Keyes, bidding him farewell, wished him good luck, and added, 4 Renifimbet that to-morrow is fSt. George's Day.' / ■ " Sir Roger had completely forgotten? tho fact, but, being as good a husbppd as he is a great sailor, he took and issued that order, 'St. George for England,' which will go down to history associated with h)B name. So lam proud to give Lady Keyes the honour she so well deserves." (Cheers.) Bronze and marble, continued the speaker slight not be needed to perpetuate this shining proof of man's unconquerable spirit, but it was. well that a mighty monument should bo set up, as it had been, in tlio sight of all by tho shores of the narrow sea which joined them together. ' Speaking on behalf of the Belgian eminent at the luncheon on tho Mole, Licut.-Colonel Aerts addressed his "Comrades of the Royal N&vy " in a few wellchosen words. Tho reply was given by Captain F. H. Sandford, D.S.O, who rescued his V.C. brother and the crew of the submarine C 3, which rammed and effectively blew up a section of the Mole,

Two Interesting Incidents. One - who was on the Caledon relates two incidents: "As we approached Zeebrugge we passed a German merchantman. Perhaps, in the circumstances, it wfis too much to expect that she would pay. the customary courtesy of dipping her flag to a warship. "There was another incident, which was not part of the official programmo and observed by very few people. Throughout the ceremony Queen Elizabeth had been standing at the side of Sir Bogcr Keyes. Toward the end of the ceremony she, handed him a match-box bearing the inscription, 'St. George for England,' and saying: 'My initials are not yet on it, but they shall be put on it in the course of the day'."