Lives of the First World War

The landing parties mounting the ramps, so as to storm the Mole at Zeebrugge.

Tombstone of F W Bowlt, Able Seaman RN J/29331

J W Bowlt in uniform

Service record of F W Bowlt

Baptism of F W Bowlt at Buckland, St Andrews, Dover

CWGC

For King and Country

Under the terms of clause 13 of the VC statutes, in cases where a body of men was deemed to have been so gallant, the best way to select VCs was by a ballot, enabling the men themselves to decide. Following on from a ballot for the Royal Marine participants, a ballot was held for the Royal Navy participants. These latter were the ships crews of Vindictive, Iris II, Daffodil, as well as the men of the Naval Storming Party. Captain Carpenter of the Vindictive, and AB McKenzie who belonged to B Company of the seaman storming party, were awarded the VC as a result of the ballot. Unfortunately, the six page list does not break out 1. the parties by company and embarked ship, nor 2. who was crew on HMS Vindictive. Storming Party men do have HMS Hindustan recorded as their depot for Mar-Apr 1918 on their service records. In addition to what was on the original list, a "prior posting" column has been added, as well as the company if known. It can be seen that the men tend to be grouped by ship