A MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED IN TORBAY TO A HERO OF THE 1918 ZEEBRUGGE RAID - LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ARTHUR LEYLAND HARRISON VC, ROYAL NAVY. |
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Western Morning News - 24 April 2000 |
Lt. Cdr Harrison made the ultimate sacrifice in the raid on the Belgium port on 23rd April 1918, when the Allies succeeded in blocking the Bruges canal and trapping over 30 German U-boats and dozens of destroyers which had been responsible for inflicting massive losses on British merchant ships. The Admiralty plan was to sail three old coal-burning cruisers, filled with concrete, across the Channel and scuttle them across the entrance of the canal. But for the plan to work the Allies had to create a diversionary attack to draw the fire of enemy guns set up to defend Zeebrugge harbour. This meant landing Naval raiding parties on a mole where the guns were positioned and using an old British submarine, packed with explosives, to blow up a nearby viaduct to stop the Germans reinforcing their troops on the mile-long mole during the attack. The warship HMS "Vindictive" and two River Mersey passenger ferries, the "Royal Iris" and the "Royal Daffodil" were used to carry in the landing parties and all three vessels were given extra protection to their superstructure to help shield them from the German guns which were expected to be firing at them from almost point blank range. More than 70 vessels, including submarines, rescue launches and smoke-laying motor boats, took part in Operation ZO along with more than 1,700 men. At first a huge smokescreen laid by the fast motor boats hid the British fleet from the guns on the mole, but at a vital moment the wind changed and the smoke cleared. The "Vindictive", which was less than 100 yards away from the pier, came under immediate heavy fire and was hit. Several key officers and a number of men were killed and 32-year old Lt Cdr Harrison was knocked unconscious with a broken jaw. When he regained consciousness he found himself in charge of the raiding parties. Despite his injuries, he gathered together a handful of men and led a charge along the mole parapet in the face of heavy machine gun fire. He was killed at the head of his men, all but two of whom were also killed. One of those wounded was a Londoner, Able Seaman Albert McKenzie, who used his Lewis gun to fight his way to the end of the fortified mole until the weapon was blown out of his hands by a German round. McKenzie then continued to fight with his revolver until he was forced to retreat back on board the "Vindictive" after being shot in the back and right foot. He recovered from his wounds, but seven months later died from influenza. [ London Gazette, 17 March 1919 ], Zeebrugge, Belgium, 22 and 23 April 1918, Lieutenant Commander Arthur Harrison, Royal Navy
For most conspicuous gallantry at Zeebrugge on the night of the 22nd - 23rd April 1918. This officer was in immediate command of the Naval Storming Parties embarked on "Vindictive".
In all more than 240 British seamen and marines were killed in the raid, but it was hailed a success because it prevented Bruges from being used as a submarine base for the remainder of the war, while trapping many German warships and submarines up river.
Arthur Harrison's Victoria Cross was presented to his mother Adelaide Harrison by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 17th May 1919. In 1967 it was donated by surviving relatives to the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, Devon, where the VC awarded to Lt Richard Sandford also resides.
A total of eight Victoria Crosses were awarded for the Zeebrugge raid:
Medal entitlement of Lieutenant Commander Arthur Harrison - Royal Navy
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Iain Stewart, 24 April 2000