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7. Sergeant Norman Finch - Royal Marine ArtilleryA fighting top, or machine gun nest, had been constructed half way
up the fore mast of the Vindictive. This fighting top was the only part of the Vindictive
which showed above the parapet of the Mole once she was alongside. From this vantage point Royal Marine machine gunners were able to engage any target they wished on the Mole. For the first few minutes of the attack they forced all the German defenders to take cover. It was this covering fire which allowed Lt-Cmdr Adams and his party to storm onto the Mole.
The Germans began to concentrate their fire on the fighting top and soon two shells cam crashing into this small compartment killing most of its occupants. Norman Finch, the sole survivor, picked up
the only serviceable Lewis gun left and resumed the covering fire. But his position was soon hit by more German shells and, badly wounded, he was forced to drag himself down from the fighting top to the
comparative safety of the Vindictive's sick bay. Norman Finch was selected by the non-commissioned Royal Marines to receive the VC |
