WW1 Submariner VC honoured with plaque at old school

Sailors from HMS Sultan and veteran deeps joined the family of Norman Holbrook — the first submariner to win the — as he was honoured at his former school. A blue plaque celebrating the deeds of the then 26-year-old , who sank a Turkish in De- cember 1914, has been unveiled at Portsmouth Grammar School.

Serving and veteran submariners gather at Port- smouth Grammar School for the unveiling of a plaque to Lt Norman Holbrook VC. Pictures: LA(Phot) Gaz Weatherston and RN Subma- rine. Museum

A postcard — probably showing HMS B11 in the Solent pre-war — celebrates the submarine's destruction of the Turkish battleship

A hero of World War 1 has been remembered with the unveiling of a plaque at his old school in Portsmouth. Cdr Norman Holbrook was the first RN recipient of a Victoria Cross in the Great War for his exploits in command of B 11 in the . On December 13 1914 Holbrook — then a 26-year-old lieutenant — took the obsolete submarine into the narrow strait, which was heavily defended by minefields, gun batteries and regular patrols.

At the end of this dangerous run Holbrook attacked the old 10,000-ton Turkish battleship Messudiyeh, causing the ship to sink in ten minutes. B11 's return journey was even more hazardous — having stirred up a hornet's nest, Holbrook and his crew had to cope with the mines, the gunfire, treacherous currents and shallow water (the boat became ground- ed with her fin exposed at one point) before they reached the safety of the open sea.

By the time she reached the Aegean the submarine had been submerged for nine hours — an exceptional feat in early submarine operations. The air on board was virtually unbreatha- ble and the batteries almost exhausted. Although Holbrook's actions were not the first to attract a Royal Naval VC nomination — that honour went to Capt Henry Ritchie for his service in November 1914 in Africa — it was the first to be gazetted. His First Lieutenant, Sidney Winn, was awarded a DSO and the remaining crew of 15 were given DSMs. Holbrook, who was born in Southsea in 1888 and attended Portsmouth Grammar School from 1900 to 1903, when he moved on to Dartmouth for Naval training. Headmaster James Priory said young Norman's reports showed "some room for improvement" but that he made his mark on the sports field, including a win in the 100-yard dash "in the face of a stiff breeze" and came third in an obstacle race — an early indication of skills which stood him in good stead in the war, suggested Mr Priory.

His time at the school has now been formally recognised by the unveiling of a blue plaque, part of an initiative by the Submariners Association over the next few years to remember 14 leading submariners.

The plaque was unveiled by Mr Priory and the president of the Submariners Association, Admiral Sir James Per- owne.

Holbrook's fame spread rapidly throughout the British Empire after his attack in the Dardanelles, and a small town in Australia decided to change its name from Germanton to Holbrook in his honour — a not uncommon action at a time of anti-German feeling.

The officer visited his namesake community several times before his death at the age of 87 in 1976, and his wife sub- sequently donated his medals to the town. The submariner also featured in such memorabilia as ciga- rette cards, and a framed set of cards — Wills's Victoria Cross Heroes, including one of Holbrook — was presented to the school by the Association, along with an Association plaque.

"It is incredibly poignant for us to be able to commemorate Norman Holbrook in a year when the whole nation has been reflecting on the Great War and the heroism of so many in service of their country," said Mr Priory. "We were honoured to be asked by the Submariners Association to be the home to a plaque commemorating his daring exploit, and hope that for years to come pupils and passers-by will be able to remember his bravery and learn his story when they see the plaque." Several members of the Holbrook family were there to see the ceremony — the family has strong roots in the area — and sailors from HMS Sultan, serving submariners, members of the Portsmouth Grammar School Combined Cadet Force and veterans of the Submariners Association also gathered at the Upper Junior School site on Cambridge Junction.