Issue 20 1

Brave Report

Son of ’s first Lord Mayor decorated for action in raid on

On the night of 22-23 April, 1918, naval history was made with a raid on Zeebrugge. Two officers from Belfast, Oscar Henderson and Kenneth Kirkpatrick, were decorated for their role in the action in which Thomas McShane from Lambeg was killed and at least ten more naval and Royal Marine personnel from Northern Ireland took part.

Zeebrugge was an outlet for German U-boats and based up the canal at Bruges and consequently posing a threat in the North Sea and Channel.

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 2

“The plan was to sink three old cruisers at the entrance to the German-occupied Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge, which was being used by U- boats. Things didn't go entirely as planned

“This WWI mission was one of the first times that a small British special force was used in a lightning strike against the enemy. The plan – conceived and led by Admiral Roger Keyes – was to sink three old cruisers at the entrance to the German-occupied Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge, which was being used by U-boats. Things didn’t go entirely as planned. The Marines who landed came under fierce fire, and the harbour entrance was only blocked for a few days – at a cost of about 200 British dead. However, it was an extraordinarily brave attack and showed what special forces were capable of.” - Paddy Ashdown

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The raid was intended to neutralise this key Belgian port by blocking the mouth of the Bruges canal at Zeebrugge in an attempt to prevent German and torpedo boats from using it.

The British plan was to sink three old cruisers Iphegenia, Intrepid and Thetis, in the channel to block it. These would have to pass a long harbour mole with a battery at the end, before they were scuttled.

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 4 It was decided therefore to storm the mole using another old cruiser, HMS Vindictive, and two Mersey ferries, Daffodil and Iris II, modified as assault vessels. Two old submarines were to be used as explosive charges, under the viaduct connecting the mole to the shore.

The cruiser Vindictive’s role was to come alongside the mole which sheltered the harbour and land marines who were to destroy the gun emplacements which would threaten the ships that would enter the harbour and block the canal.

Vindictive was heavily hit on the approach, and came alongside in the wrong place. Despite much bravery by the landing party, the battery remained in action. Vindictive was intended to make a diversionary attack against the Mole enclosing the harbour, then land a force of marines and cover them in an attempt to silence German guns, while two old submarines were exploded under the landward causeway to the Mole to prevent its reinforcement.

Because a change of wind made a planned smokescreeen ineffective, Vindictive came under very heavy fire and was forced to put men ashore in the wrong place with the result that German RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 5

The battered cruiser HMS Vindictive at after the artillery was not silenced either by the marines or her own guns (the ship having been refitted with mortars, flame-throwers and howitzers for such close-range action). The loss of the Vindictive's guns was significant: without their crucial support the shore batteries remained untaken. In turn their sustained fire also disabled a further three ancient British cruisers - Thetis, Iphigenia and Intrepid - packed with concrete and which had moved into the inner harbour, preventing them from halting and themselves in their

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 6 correct pre-assigned locations at the narrow entrance to the canal.

One did succeed in blowing up the viaduct, but the first block ship was badly hit and forced to ground before reaching the canal entrance. Only two (Ipheginia and Intrepid) were sunk in place.

Allied propaganda claimed the rather inconclusive raid as a key British victory, its significance bolstered in the public mind by the awarding of eight Victoria Crosses, including to Lieutenant R. D. Sandford, of 'C3', and of ‘Vindictive’.

It soon became apparent that the ships which had been sunk in the entrance to the canal did little more than cause the Germans some inconvenience. The Germans, made a new channel round the two ships, and within two days their submarines were able to transit Zeebrugge. Destroyers were able to do so by mid-May.

Of the 1700 men involved in the operation, however, 300 were wounded while more than 200 were killed. 'Vindictive', by this time an old ship launched in 1897, took heavy damage in

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 7 action close alongside the Mole but came away succesfully and was herself sunk as a blockship less than a month later in a similar raid on .

It soon became apparent that the ships which had been sunk in the entrance to the canal did little more than cause the Germans some inconvenience. The Germans, made a new channel round the two ships, and within two days their submarines were able to transit Zeebrugge. Destroyers were able to do so by mid-May.

Commander Oscar Henderson took command of HMS Isis when his commanding officer was injured. He brought the ship back to Dover.

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ROLL OF HONOUR Zeebrugge

McSHANE, Thomas Charles AB. SS4230. HMS Vindictive. Died Zeebrugge 23/04/1918. Age 24. Born Newry. Only son of Hugh and Margaret McShane, River Rd., Lambeg, Lisburn. Brother of Sophia

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 9 Hamilton, Larkstone St., Belfast. Family notice, Belfast Telegraph. St James’s Cemetery, Dover

THEY SERVED Zeebrugge

BELL, S RMLI. Private. Wounded Zeebrugge. Abbeyville Cottages, Whiteabbey

GIBSON, R E RN. Armourer. Zeebrugge. Northumberland St., Belfast

GOUDY, T RMLI. Private. Zeebrugge. Finlay St., Ligoniel, Belfast

HENDERSON, Oscar RN. Commander. CVO, CVE, DSO 1918, Twice mentioned in Despatches, French Croix de Guerre avec Palmes. Retired from RN in 1922.

Gazetted 16/08/1915 - Landing at Gallipoli Peninsula 25-26/04/1915. “Commended for service in action. Took part in the landing at Morto Bay, and with commendable initiative pushed on in support of the Marines, after he had assisted in the disembarkation.”

Awarded a DSO for his actions at Zeebrugge. The Admiralty notice of the award on 23/07/1918, stated, “Lieutenant Oscar Henderson, RN (Isis II). When a shell carried away the bridge of his ship and caused a serious fire amongst the ammunition and bombs, he led a volunteer fire party with a hose on to the RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 10 upper to quench the fire. Took over command of the ship after Cdr. Gibbs had been mortally wounded”. HMS Isis was a former steamer which Henderson successfully brought back to Dover from Zeebrugge.

Midshipman 1909 - 11, Mediterranean Fleet 1911 - 12, China Fleet 1912 - 14 (at capture of Tsing Tao 1914), Gallipoli 1915 - 16 twice mentioned in Despatches, 1917, Portsmouth Escort Flotilla 1918; selected to represent Portsmouth Command in the naval raid on Zeebrugge and Ostend.

Oscar Henderson was the third child of Sir James Henderson (1848-1914), Oakley House, Windsor Pk., Belfast. He was Belfast’s first Lord Mayor. He is credited with the fine City Hall which stands in the centre of the City today. He took a Law degree at Trinity College Dublin. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1872 and he became Editor of the Newry Telegraph in 1873, retaining that position until 1883. He became Managing Proprietor of the Belfast News Letter and Belfast Weekly News.

James Henderson was made a Freeman of the City of Belfast in 1912 and he was knighted By H.E. The Lord Lieutenant at the Vice Regal Lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin on the 12th January 1899.

Oscar was educated at Methodist College, Belfast, 1900 - 03, Bradfield, 1903 - 04, Osborn, and the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, 1904 - 09.

After his naval service he was appointed Comptroller and Private Secretary to the Duke of Abercorn, the first Governor of

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 11 Northern Ireland. He was awarded a C.V.O and a C.B.E for his services.

He was father of Captain William Henderson, OBE, DL, who served with the Irish Guards 1942 - 47 and a chairman of the Belfast News Letter until it was sold in 1989. Bill played an important part in securing the franchise for UTV in 1958. Another son, Brumwell, was named after the architect, Sir Brumwell Thomas, who designed Belfast City Hall. Brum was a TCD graduate and journalist with the News Letter, who became General Manager, Managing Director and Chairman of UTV.

HERRIOT, Thomas Hunter RN. Flight Officer. Heligoland and Zeebrugge. Mercantile Marine Medal. Croix de Guerre (Belge). MBE. 1939-45: Squadron Leader, Pathfinder Force, RAF. B 23/01/1894. Son of J. S. Herriot, Beaconsfield, Belmont Church Road, Belfast.

KERR, R RMLI. Private. Wounded Zeebrugge. Linview St., Belfast

KIRKPATRICK, K C Possibly Kenneth Clark - DSC RN. Lieutenant. Zeebrugge. Kincraig, Antrim Rd., Belfast

LYNCH, William RMLI. Private. Zeebrugge. Shore St., Belfast

McALISTER, - RN. Stoker. Zeebrugge. Nile St., Belfast

McMASTER, T

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 12 RM. Armourer. Zeebrugge. Loughview Cottage, Whitewell, Belfast

O'NEILL, Harry RN. ERA. Zeebrugge. Omagh

WHITE, W H RMLI. Wounded Zeebrugge. Walton St., Belfast

Acknowledgments - Daily Mirror, Lord Ashdown, “Methodist College Belfast 1868- 1938” by JW Henderson

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RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance Issue 20 13 Brave Report is collated and published by The Very Rev. Dr Houston McKelvey, OBE QVRM TD.

Dr McKelvey served as chaplain for 29 years with 102/105 (Ulster & Scottish) Regiment, Royal Artillery TA; for 20 years as Chaplain to the RBL - Northern Ireland Area, and for a period as chaplain to the Belfast Branch of the Burma Star Association. He was involved in the life of HMS Caroline and HMS Hibernia.He was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the RNR. He is a Past President of QUB Combined Services Club.

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance