Richard Douglas Sandford
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Richard Douglas Sandford (11 May 1891-23 November 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 26 years old, and a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
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.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Britannia Royal Naval College (Dartmouth, Devon, England).
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Cleveland)
- Sandford VC (action details & citation)
