Lt Richard Sandford VC RN
(1891-1918)
Victoria Cross recipient, Royal Navy member, Commander of submarine C3 on the St George’s Day raid on Zeebrugge, 23/24th April 1918, and Royal Navy Lieutenant
Died aged c. 27
Wikidata WikipediaRichard Douglas Sandford, VC (11 May 1891 – 23 November 1918) was a Royal Navy officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was a son of the Venerable Ernest Grey Sandford, Archdeacon of Exeter; his great-grandfather was Daniel Sandford, the Bishop of Edinburgh, and his brother was Brigadier Daniel Sandford. Richard Sandford attended Clifton College whence he joined the Royal Navy. At 26 years old, he was a lieutenant commanding a submarine, HMS C3 in the Royal Navy during the First World War when he took part in the Zeebrugge Raid and won the Victoria Cross. The citation read: On 22/23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Lieutenant Sandford commanding HM Submarine C.3, skilfully placed the vessel between the piles of the viaduct which connected the Mole with the shore, before laying his fuse and abandoning her. He disdained to use the gyro steering which would have enabled him and his crew to abandon the submarine at a safe distance, but preferred to make sure that his mission would be successful. Sandford died of typhoid fever at Eston Hospital, North Yorkshire, 12 days after the signing of the Armistice, and the day after his last command, HMS G11, had been wrecked on rocks off Howick, Northumberland; his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.
DbPedia
Commemorated on 2 plaques
15 The Beacon. Home of Lt Richard Sandford VC RN, who was awarded the VC for conspicuous bravery. Commander of submarine C3 on the St George’s Day raid on Zeebrugge, 23/24th April 1918. He and his crew deliberately ran this explosive filled vessel aground where it later exploded, breaching the viaduct. He was wounded escaping. He died from typhoid 23rd November 1918, aged 27.
15 The Beacon, Exmouth, United Kingdom where they lived
Lieutenant Richard Douglas Sandford VC, Royal Navy Was born near here. Awarded the VC for his actions in command of HM Submarine C.3 during the hazardous Zeebrugge Raid on the 22nd April 1918. He skilfully placed his vessel in between the piles of the viaduct before lighting the fuse and abandoning her, aware that if they were not rescued they would all be killed by the force of the explosion.
15 Cathedral Close, Exeter, United Kingdom where they was born (1891)