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The Raid on Zeebrugge - 23rd April 1918 |
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Leading Seaman W W Childs RN |
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William Childs, last on the right, standing in the back row |
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William Childs was a member of the Royal Navy assault party which stormed the Mole at Zeebrugge on the night of the 22nd April 1918. He
was in charge of the two Lewis gun teams. The German guns opened fire on HMS Vindictive
as she approached the Mole killing or wounding many members of the assault party. Of the original Lewis gun crews only Childs and 19-year-old Able Seaman Albert McKenzie actually landed on the Mole. During fierce hand to hand fighting with the German defenders Albert McKenzie was badly wounded, and it was William Childs who carried him back on board the
Vindictive.For his part in the action William Childs was presented with this Distinguished Service Medal by King George V on board the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth
in July 1918. Albert McKenzie was elected by the members of the crew of the Vindictive to be awarded the Victoria Cross; this was presented to him by the King at Buckingham Palace in the same month . |
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