The Freshwater and Totland Archive Group is organising an illustrated talk by David Slade on the Zeebrugge Raid of April 23, 1918.

David is a member of the Orders and Medals Research Society and will speak about how the St. Georges Day Raid planned to sink block-ships in the canal system linking Zeebrugge, Bruges and Ostend.

This would prevent German submarines and destroyers from leaving port at a time when the enemy on the Western Front was making advances following the release of troops from the Russian Front.

Losing the war was a very real possibility in early spring of 1918, but the bravery displayed by those in the attacking force resulted in a number of awards for gallantry, including no less than eight Victoria Crosses.

This talk tells the story and gives all those who took part in the attack, their voice in the making of history.

Several Isle of Wight servicemen were serving at that time and saw action during the raid.

These included Gunner Frederick Jenkins, Royal Marine Artillery, sometime secondhand book-seller, who lived in Camp Road, Freshwater.

AB Henry Hollis was killed in action aboard HMS Iris II and he came from Brighstone and was related to the current Brighstone Village Shop owners.

There was also AB Ferdinand Lake whose grandmother was from Ventnor although he lived in Portsmouth.

He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for bravery, also aboard HMS Iris II.

  • The talk is at Freshwater Methodist Church, Brookside Road, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, on Friday, November 11, at 7pm and entry is £5 to include refreshments.

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