The Raid on Zeebrugge - 23rd April 1918

by Colin McKenzie

The Battleship 'Neptune' - Albert McKenzie's first posting (IWM)

THE YOUNG ALBERT MCKENZIE

Albert McKenzie had joined the Boys Service of the Royal Navy in 1913 at the age of 15 and whilst at the training depot HMS Ganges had displayed a talent for boxing winning several medals as a junior, despite being only 5 foot 2 inches tall.

 April 1915 he was posted to HMS Neptune, a four year old battleship,  where he joined the 758 other crew members. Neptune was part of the 4th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet. Whilst at Scapa Flow Albert won the Fleet light-weight boxing championship and fought in the finals for the Royal Navy title

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE GRAND FLEET

The British Grand Fleet had spent two years waiting in Scapa Flow for the German High Seas Fleet to venture out to sea again after the Battle of Jutland.  Life for the sailors of the Grand Fleet had become boring and repetitive and the Navy was attracting much criticism from the British Press for sitting at anchor doing nothing, whilst the Army did all the fighting in France.

During this period sporting competitions were organised between all the ships of the Fleet. These included rowing, football and boxing. One of the sailors who showed particular skill and determination in the boxing matches was Able Seaman Albert McKenzie.

A Navy boxing competition in Scapa Flow 1918 (IWM)

A group of officers on the deck of the Vindictive before the Raid:- Dickenson - Walker - Adams - Osbourne - Harrison - Hawkins

VOLUNTEERS COME FORWARD

Early in 1918 news reached Admiral David Beatty, commander of the Grand Fleet, that Admiral Keyes was planning a secret operation. Beatty offered to provide Keyes with 200 sailors and sent a signal to all ships asking for volunteers. Keyes' requirements were for fit young sailors, preferably good sportsmen who were single with no family dependants; requirements which Albert McKenzie matched  perfectly

Lieutenant Commander Chamberlain, a young officer from the Neptune was given the task of selecting fifty men from his ship, and he immediately found a willing volunteer in Albert McKenzie, who had just been released from a seven day spell in the ship's cells after some minor brush with navy discipline, the details of which are not recorded.

READY FOR TRAINING

Under Lt Cmdr Chamberlain the fifty men from Neptune were to form 'B' Company of the storming party. No 1 section of 'B' Company was a four man Lewis gun team to be headed by Able Seaman Albert McKenzie.

Eventually the two hundred volunteer sailors were selected and under the command of Captain Halahan they travelled down on the train from Scotland to start their training.

Capt Halahan's junior officers were Lieutenant Commanders Chamberlain, Harrison, Adams and Bradford. These officers and their men had willingly volunteered for what was described at the time as a 'stunt' - but a stunt from which they would be very lucky to return alive.

... The Plan

Capt Halahan - commander of the Royal Navy Assault Party, to be landed on the Mole from HMS Vindictive

Preparation ...