ZEEBRUGGE V.C.'S

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10284, 20 May 1919, Page 3

ZEEBRUGGE V.C.'S

GLORIOUS DEATHS AT STORMING OF THE MOLE.

The King has approved"the posthumous award of two V.C.'s to officers who displayed conspicuous gallantry during the storming of the Mole at Zeeliruggc. They are LieutenantCommander George Nicholson Bradford,., R.N., and kieutenant-Comman-d'er Arthur Leyland Harrison, R.N. The former was in command of the naval storming parties in Iris 11. He climbed up the derrick which carried the parapet anchor while the ship was surging up and down and the derrick crashing on the Mole. Waiting his opportunity, he jumped with the anchor on to the Mole and placed it in position. He was riddled with bullets from machine-guns, and fell into the sea between the Mole and the ship. Attempts to recover his body failed. j Lioutenant-Commander Bradford's action, says the "Gazette," was one of absolute self-sacrifice; without a moment's hesitation he went to certain death, recognising that in such action lay. the only possible chance of securing Iris 11., and enabling her storming parties to land. Mention is also made by the "Gazette" of the gallant'action of Lieutenant Claude E. K. Hawkings, who reached the parapet by means of a ladder before the anchor was in position. The ladder was smashed to pieces as he stepped off it, and he was last seen defending himself with his revolver. Lieutenant-Commander Harrison, the other V.C., was in charge of the storming parties on the Vindictive. He was knocked senseless by a fragment of .shell, which broke his jaw, but on recovering consciousness he headed his men in a charge against the enemy guns on the molehead, kowing that any delay in silencing them might joopardise'tho main object of the expedition. He was killed, and all his men were either killed or wounded.