ON THIS DAY

[bootneck]

On This Day

Victoria Cross

1917, France....Major F.W.Lumsden, DSO RMA,

1945, Cpl T.P.Hunter, 43Commando RM, Italy

[harry hackedoff]

Yo Booty , wasn`t Lumsden`s VC for Zeebrugge? As I recall, there were two VCs awarded and the boss couldn`t decide who to give them to, as in his opinion" everyone who stood besides me on the mole deserved one" War Office said sort it yerself Royal, so they held a raffle, I kid you not
Anyhows, bad news, on this day, 1199, Richard, Le Roi, Le Coer de Lion, passed over and was succeeded by Robin Hood`s mate, Prince John

Good news, on this day, 1984, Cocos(Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean voted to integrate with Australia, ending the 150 year rule of the British Clunies-Ross family

[Dave.Mil]

1974 ABBA won the eurovision song contest with waterloo, it was on the TV this morning. I'm not a fan honest.

[El Prez]

H, that's Couer de Lion you bloody scarse peasant!

[harry hackedoff]

I know how to spell coeur, you nonce, t`was a trap for the unwarry and you bit . That`s Richard The Lion Heart, for all you mono-glots
Sticks, what`s yer point, ref 1922?
Oscar Wilde, top bloke or what, geez?
Famously said " Don`t drink water, fish shag in it"
And on his death bed" Those curtains don`t match the wallpaper"
Prioritys, huh

[bootneck]

Yo Booty , wasn`t Lumsden`s VC for Zeebrugge?

THE ZEEBRUGGE VICTORIA CROSSES OF THE 4TH BATTALION ROYAL MARINES.

In the selection of the Men to receive the Victoria Cross Rule thirteen was not strictly adhered to. It is believed that it was the intention to award one of these awards and it is clear that only one ballot took place. The evidence being the results of the vote by the members of the 4th Battalion.
Two men were awarded the Victoria Cross in a ballot held on the 26th April at the Royal Marine Depot at Deal. The ballot contained both Officers and Men of the 4th Battalion, contravening Rule 13 of The Royal Warrant for the Victoria Cross, dated the 29th of January 1856.
The men were assembled on the Parade ground, where slips of voting paper were handed to those present. (It is not known whether the hospital wounded voted or not, but it is known that they were included in the ballot.)
The ballot results, shown below, included the names of both officers and men. The two VCs being awarded to Sergeant Norman Finch with 91 votes and Captain Edward Bamford with ?? votes. The sheet shows Bamford having 34 Votes then crossed out and adding 64 Votes. The reasons for the alterations are not explained.

On the 22nd and 23 of April 1918 a battle took place at Zeebrugge in Belgium. It was mounted by two thousand men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes.
This port was a base for German submarines, from which they attacked and sank Allied shipping. They accounted for over a third of all the tonnage sunk in World War One. Over two thousand five hundred allied ships sent to the bottom.
It was vital that this port was denied to them and this raid was to ensure that it was. Three ships were sunk across the entrance to the harbour; rendering the trapped submarines useless.
The battle was fierce and the attacking force faced fierce opposition and suffered heavy losses. Marines and Sailors landed on the Mole and stormed the enemy defences. Whilst the fighting was in progress three 'blocking' ships were scuttled; they were the HM Ships Thetis Intrepid and Iphiginia and also HM Submarine C3.
Such was the bravery during this action that it was found difficult to award honours for valour. So many men, both sailors and marines so distinguished themselves in battle. that a ballot was used to make the awards for bravery. For the Royal Marines the following men were recommended to be entered into the ballot for the Victoria Cross:.

The account of Captain Edward Bamford of the Royal Marines Light Infantry was that on the night of the 22nd and 23rd of April 1918, St. George's Day, from HMS Vindictive, he landed, under great difficulty in the darkness. on the Mole with three platoons of Royal Marines In the face of intensive enemy fire he led the Company with great disregard for personal danger; setting a magnificent example to his men. When he was satisfied with the safe establishment of the first strong point, he then led his men in an assault on an enemy battery on the left
Captain Bamford was born in London on the 28 May 1887. He died in Shanghai, China, at the young age of 41 on 29 September 1928. He held three other honours, Legion d'Honneur (France); Order of St. Anne, third class, (Russia.); Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class (Japan.)

The account of Sergeant Finch, of the Royal Marine Artillery, tells us that on the 22 and 23 of April 1918,
Sergeant Finch was the second in command of the pom-pom and Lewis gun in the foretop of HMS Vindictive. During one period, the Vindictive sustained hits every few seconds. The officer in command and Finch kept up a perpetual flow of fire. Two heavy enemy shells hit them directly on the foretop; killing or disabling the others. Severely wounded himself, Sergeant Finch kept harassing the enemy, entrenched on the Mole, from his battered and exposed position. Another direct hit finally put the rest of the armament out of action.
Sergeant Finch, later to become a Lieutenant, was born in Handsworth, Birmingham on Boxing Day 1890. He was a Sergeant-Major in the Queen's Bodyguard of Yeoman of the Guard in 1961.

His VC was Gazetted on the 23 of July 1918. He died in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 15 March 1966 and was
cremated at Porchester. His ashes were transferred to Southampton and from there the trail ends. His only known memorial is at the Eastney Barracks, Royal Marines Museum, Southsea.

Major Frederick William Lumsden, DSO
Royal Marines Artillery

Major Frederick William Lumsden, DSO
Royal Marines Artillery

15th Highland Light Infantry, Western Front

On 3rd April 1917 Major Lumsden was placed in charge of a party of the 15th Highland Light Infantry at Francilly in France.
Six enemy field guns having been captured, it was necessary to leave them in dug-in positions, 300 yards in advance of the position held by our troops. The enemy kept the captured guns under heavy fire.
Major Lumsden undertook the duty of bringing the guns into our lines. In order to effect this, he personally led four artillery teams and a party of infantry through the hostile barrage. As one of these teams sustained casualties, he left the remaining teams in a covered position, and, through very heavy rifle, machine gun and shrapnel fire, led the infantry to the guns.
By force of example and inspiring energy he succeeded in sending back two teams with guns, going through the barrage with the teams of the third gun. He then returned to the guns to await further teams, and these he succeeded in attaching to two of the three remaining guns, despite rifle fire, which had become intense at short range, and removed the guns to safety.
By this the the enemy, in considerable strength, had driven through the infantry covering points, and blown up the breech of the remaining gun. Major Lumsden then returned, drove off the enemy, attached the gun to a team and got it away.
London Gazette _ 8th June 1917
Whilst Brigade Commander of the 14th Brigade he was further gazetted on 11th May 1917 for two bars to his DSO. In the temporary rank of Brigadier-General he was wounded on 2nd August 1917 and on return to duty promoted to Lt.Colonel Royal Marines Artillery for distinguished service. On 19th April 1918 he was awarded a third bar for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the field. He was awarded the Companion of the Bath in the King's Birthday honours list for 1918 but was killed in a forward trench on the night of the 3rd June 1918. He held the 1914 Star, British War Medal, Belgium's Croix de Guerre and was mentioned in dispatches four times. He is buried in Berles New Military Cemetery in France.
His memorial, unveiled on 25th July 1920, stands outside the Royal Marines Museum at Eastney.

Anyone wanting to check out the rest of the VC`s, can at the following link.

http://www.rnreference.mod.uk/29/histvc.html


H, you realy must keep out of the sun mate

Good news, on this day, 1984, Cocos(Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean voted to integrate with Australia, ending the 150 year rule of the British Clunies-Ross family

well i didn`t vote in favour of it "H" now all my subjects will have to have endless holidays and barbies everyday

[df2inaus]

11 April 1970 - Apollo 13 lifts off for the Moon and very nearly never splashes down. Their own military training saved the astronauts' lives, talk about leadership in times of adversity! We should all salute Lovell, Haise, and Swygert for achieving the impossible.

[Tab]

Bootneck

Drawing lots for a VC was quite common place at one time during the 19th Century.

[bootneck]

Bootneck

Drawing lots for a VC was quite common place at one time during the 19th Century.

yes i realise that Tab, it just seemes odd, that some guy could do all the Donkey work, and some other guy gets the limelight. Ok, if the section/troop/company were doing a full frontal, but if it was down to an individuals own initiative, well, the rest as they say, is history.

[goreD.]

On this day........ Today,

I woke up with a stinking hangover.

[Mince]

I had a minor celebration myself the other day when I finally remembered where you're first sig comes from (GoreD): Blazing Saddles, the greatest (or the only good) western mankind has ever produced. I cartwheeled around the room...
I've been discovering recently that adherence to strictly one form of alcohol all night greatly reduces ones hangover. All these years I thought the 'don't mix yer drinks' brigade were talking a bag of it, and they turned out to be right.

[goreD.]

It's a culmination of being on the raz for three days and being with three different girls on three different nights.

I might have tonight off..... But then again...........

Gore.

[Mince]

Sales of Carling have a lot to thank me for the past four days an' all. My organs are putting together a petition to have my mouth sewn up. My left pocket is crammed with a wad of bills for this months rent but there are just so many pubs to be passed on the perilous journey back to the flat. Must I do battle with them all?