Lives of the First World War

Able Seaman Albert McKenzie joined the Navy as a boy and became a national hero following the Zeebrugge raid in 1918.

CWGC Gravestone of Ordinary Seaman Albert Edward McKenzie VC in Camberwell Old Cemetery

Grave of Ordinary Seaman Albert Edward McKenzie VC in Camberwell Old Cemetery

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. Although a six page list of men does exist, some names are omitted, notably McKenzie. The list does not break out men into neither the four storming parties, nor the crew of HMS Vindictive. Stokers were not in the storming parties.

Statue of Albert located in Bermondsey

Statue of Albert Edward mcKenzie in Bermondsey.

Camberwell Old Cemetery 11/7/2018