Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 6492941

Reference: ADM188

Title: Royal Navy Seamen 1899-1919

Description: The Royal Navy Seamen records contain the complete service histories of 373,000 ratings who joined the service between 1899 and 1919.

UPP: GBM/ADM188/243424

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 8670770

Title: HMS Thunderer

Description: HMS Thunderer ship's badge

Connected by: Gerry59140

Source information

ID: 9031777

Title: Zeebrugge Raid ballot

Description: 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.

Connected by: Keith1947

Additional: It can be seen from the men's individual service records that they are stamped "Participated in the ballot for VC granted for operations against Zeebrugge..." It is unclear why he is omitted from the listing of '[a.] “Vindictive” & [b.] Storming & Demolition Parties. 23. 4.18 ', which was sourced from: ADM 116/1656 Operations against Zeebrugge Casualties Vol. 2