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Posted: Fri 23 Apr, 2004 5:51 am
by bootneck
Not only is the 23rd April St Georges Day, it also Celebrates the Raid on Zebrugge, in 1918. This is where, Captain Edward Bamford, D.S.O.
Royal Marines Light Infantry, was selected by the officers of the R.M.A. and R.M.L.I. detachments to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, dated the 29th January, 1856."

"This officer landed on the Mole from Vindictive with numbers 5, 7, and 8 platoons of the marine storming force in the face of great difficulties. When on the Mole and under heavy fire, he displayed the greatest initiative in the command of his company, and by his total disregard of danger showed a magnificent example to his men. He first established a strong point on the right of the disembarkation, and, when satisfied that that was safe, led an assault on a battery to the left, with the utmost coolness and valour.
Captain Bamford was selected by the officers of the R.M.A. and R.M.L.I. detachments to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, dated the 29th January, 1856."
London Gazette _ 23rd July 1918
His other decorations were the Russian Order of St.Anne 3rd Class with Swords on 5th June 1917, French Legion of Honour on 23rd May 1919, Japanese Order of the Rising Sun 4th Class in August 1921, 1914/15 Star (MID), British War medal and Victory Medal.
Major Bamford was taken ill in Wei Hai and died, aged 41, on 30th September 1928, whilst still serving, and on the way to hospital in Hong Kong on board HMS Cumberland. He is buried in the English cemetery in Shanghai.
Also on this Day, Sergeant Norman Augustus Finch,Royal Marines Artillery,was selected by the 4th Battalion of Royal Marines who were mostly Royal Marine Light Infantry, to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant dated 29th January, 1856."
Sergeant Finch was second-in-command of the Pom-Poms and Lewis guns in the foretop of Vindictive and under Lieutenant Charles N.V.Rigby, R.M.A. At one period the Vindictive was being hit every few seconds chiefly in the upper works from which splinters caused many casualties. It was difficult to locate the guns which were doing the most damage but Lieutenant Rigby, Sergeant Finch and the marines in the foretop kept up a constant continuous fire with Pom-Poms and Lewis guns, changing rapidly from one target to another and thus keeping the enemy's fire down to some considerable extent. Unfortunately two heavy shells made direct hits on the foretop which was completely exposed to enemy concentration of fire. All in the top were killed or disabled except Sergeant Finch who was, however, severely wounded. Nevertheless he showed consummate bravery remaining in his battered and exposed position He once more got his Lewis gun into action and kept up a continuous fire, harassing the enemy on the Mole until the foretop received another direct hit. The remainder of the armament being then put completely out of action. Before the top was destroyed Sergeant Finch had done invaluable work and by his bravery undoubtedly saved many lives.
This very gallant sergeant of the Royal Marine Artillery was selected by the 4th Battalion of Royal Marines who were mostly Royal Marine Light Infantry, to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant dated 29th January, 1856."
Dates of Act of Bravery _ 22nd/23rd April, 1918 London Gazette _ 23rd July 1918
Norman Finch was promoted to Colour Sergeant on 12 August 1920 and after varied service at home and abroad he left the service from Eastney as Barrack Quartermaster, recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal. On 1st January 1931 he was appointed a Yeoman of the Guard. He was recalled to service in 1938 and promoted Temporary Lieutenant (QM) on 25th February 1941. He finally left the service on 16th August 1945. In 1964 he was appointed Divisional Sergeant-Major in Her Majesty's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and awarded the Royal Victorian Medal for his services. His other medals were 1914/15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals, and on 27th January 1924 the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
He died, aged 75, in St.Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth on 15th March 1966 and was cremated at Porchester.
I`ll take a Tot, :drinking:

Posted: Fri 23 Apr, 2004 7:03 pm
by Mince
Didn't he also die on this day? 1616, if I recall rightly. Arrr, them were the days!

Posted: Sun 25 Apr, 2004 7:56 pm
by saward
25 April 1965.

Plamam Mapu. Borneo.
Twenty seven members of 2 Para held off an attack by Indonesian forces.

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Borneo/Plamam.html

Saward

Posted: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 9:55 pm
by Frank S.
30 April 1863, 2000 Mexican guerilleros (800 cavalry, 1200 infantry) attack 65 Legionnaires of the 3rd Company, 1st Etranger at Camerone.
The siege lasts 10 hours and 12 wounded Legionnaires only survive.

Posted: Sat 01 May, 2004 6:13 pm
by harry hackedoff
And I have gazed upon le main de bois de Capitaine D`Anjou :o
D`ya wanna give up?
No thanks, we`d rather be killed.
Fair enufski, take that. Boof.
Oh no, we`d much rather die.
As you wish. Boof boof.
Etc etc, till the survivors weren`t capable of answering and were finaly captured. Me old oppo, Dave "the Head" D`Anjou gave rise to the saying" wrap yer hand in" when he unscrewed his wooden hand and chucked it at some fat Mexican tart, in a Mariachi band singing " Aye, Aye, Aye Aye, we are my favourite people. We all go together, like peaches, and cream" duft, wooden hand smacks lead singer in gob and lays her out cold :o


No surprise that I made most of this post up :oops:
`Cept the bit about Lofty D`Anjou`s wooden mit, and he had to " change hands" permanently :wink:
Ou est l`addition, mmeselle, s`ille vous plait? :wink:

Posted: Sat 01 May, 2004 6:26 pm
by harry hackedoff
On this day, in 1707, formal Union between England and Scotland took place, and hey presto! Great Britain was borne 8)
Hamburg radio said that nice mister Hitler was dead 1945
El Prez made an honest woman of that charmin miss Persilla Beaulieu, ah huh huh. Lemme say lemme say. That`d be right kindly, y`all, and 1967 was th` year 8)

Posted: Mon 03 May, 2004 6:22 pm
by bootneck
on this day 25 years ago, the "IRON LADY" (more balls than Blair) came to power. i`ll drink to Maggie :drinking:

Posted: Tue 04 May, 2004 12:27 pm
by goffer
On this day in 1982 HMS Sheffield was sunk, after being hit by an Argentine fired Exocet missile.

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This occured two days after the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano was sunk by HMS Conqueror on the 2nd of May.


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Posted: Fri 21 May, 2004 9:24 am
by bootneck
On this Day 1982, 3 Commando Brigade HQ and Sigs & op LC Squadrons, Landed at, San Carlos Water

Posted: Fri 21 May, 2004 12:00 pm
by harry hackedoff
Ardent was sunk with the loss of twenty two lives.
Here`s to them :drinking:

We will remember them,

Posted: Fri 21 May, 2004 12:16 pm
by Ploggers
Aye. rest in peace lads.

Posted: Fri 21 May, 2004 3:16 pm
by bootneck
on this day, 2004, at 02:00 hrs, whilst dropping the trailer, i unplugged the suzies, and attempted to walk off the offside of the unit, stepping into the gap between the front of the fuel tank and the front offside mudguard, the left leg went AWOL, and my fall being stopped by a bracket thumping into my left armpit. Result, left arm completly dead for half an hour or more, skin from, inner top left arm, left elbow, left thigh (outer) and right kneecap, missing :o ...ouch! moral of story is, use correct method of getting onto, and off the catwalk, and do not try and take short cuts :roll:

back to the drawing board :(

Posted: Fri 21 May, 2004 3:42 pm
by harry hackedoff
Ardent is sticken
Image
Bombs splash the Norland, Fearless is close by.
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This map shows the days actions. RN casualtys were:-
Brilliant and Broadsword both damaged by cannon fire.
Antrim and Argonaut both had UXBs.
Ardent was sinking.

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1. Argentine aircraft lost near Mount Kent - [a31] Chinook), [a32] Puma (both 8am)
2. British aircraft lost in Port Howard area - [b13] Harrier GR.3 (10am)
3. Argentine aircraft lost over Sussex Mountains - [a33] Pucara (10am)
4. Argonaut damaged by cannon fire off entrance to San Carlos Water (10am)
5. Antrim damaged by UXB, Broadsword by cannon fire off entrance to San Carlos Water (10.30am)
6. Argentine aircraft lost off San Carlos Water - [a34] Dagger (10.30am)
7. Argentine aircraft lost near Darwin - [a35] Pucara (12.10pm)
8. Argentine aircraft lost south of Christmas Harbour - [a36,a37] Skyhawks (1.05pm)
9. Argonaut damaged by UXB off entrance to San Carlos Water (2.30pm)
10. Argentine aircraft lost near Teal River Inlet - [a38] Dagger (2.35pm)
11. Ardent damaged by bomb, [b14] Lynx destroyed in Grantham Sound (2.40pm)
12. Brilliant damaged by cannon fire off entrance to San Carlos Water (2.45pm)
13. Argentine aircraft lost north of Port Howard - [a39,a40,a41] Daggers (2.50pm)
14. ARDENT mortally damaged by bombs in Grantham Sound (3.10pm)
15. Argentine aircraft lost near Swan Island - [a42,a43] Skyhawks (3.12pm)
16. Argentine aircraft lost trying to land at Stanley [a44] Skyhawk (3.30pm