Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 35
A Great War ‘Zeebrugge Raid’ D.S.M. pair awarded to Able Seaman F. C. Summerhayes, H.M.S. Vindictive, Royal Navy, a veteran of the Battle of Jutland, he went on to distinguish himself as part of ‘B’ Company of the Seaman Storming Party during the famous raid, 22-23 April 1918, and participated in the ballot for the Victoria Cross
Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.17594 F.C. Summerhayes, A.B. Nl. Bde. Zeebrugge Ostend. 22-3. Apl. 1918.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (J.17594 F. C. Summerhayes. A.B. R.N.); together with a copy 1914-15 Star and copy British War Medal 1914-20, both similarly named to the VM, edge bruising, pitted and worn, therefore fine (2) £800-£1,200
Provenance: Spink, April 2006.
D.S.M. London Gazette 23 July 1918: A.B. Frederick Charles Summerhayes, O.N. J17594 (Dev.), Seaman Storming Party “B” Company ‘For services in the Operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of the 22nd - 23rd April 1918.’
Frederick Charles Summerhayes was born in Bedminster, Somerset, on 28 February 1897, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 14 May 1912. Posted to H.M.S. Bellerophon on 8 January 1913, he served in her during the Great War, including at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and was promoted Able Seaman on 1 March 1916. He transferred to H.M.S. Hindustan on 23 February 1918, the designated depot-ship for the forthcoming Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids.
The Zeebrugge Raid, 22-23 April 1918
On 23 April 1918, St. George’s Day, the joint operations on Zeebruge and Ostend harbours were carried out by the Royal Navy and the 4th Royal Marines. Their aim being to block the Bruges ship canal at its entrance, Zeebrugge harbour, and to block the entrance to the Ostend harbour by sea whilst inflicting as much damage as possible on the respective ports and ultimately nullify their use as bases for German torpedo craft and submarines. H.M.S. Vindictive’s role was to arrive alongside the the Zeebrugge Mole and unload its storming party, thus acting as a diversion for the main objective- the blocking ships. The storming party’s role was primarily to capture the 4.1-inch battery at the sea end of the Mole, which if left intact would be a major threat to advance of the blockships. The vessels charged with providing a smoke screen began shelling at 11:40 p.m. on 22 April, and the Vindictive simultaneously began her advance on the Mole: ‘They literally poured projectiles into us. In about five minutes we had reached the Mole, but not before the ship had suffered a great amount of damage to both material and personnel.’ (The Great War, I Was There, Article by Captain A. F. B. Carpenter V.C., R.N. refers).
At 12:01 a.m. on 23 April the Vindictive reached her station closely followed by H.M.S. Daffodil and H.M.S. Iris II. The storming and demolition parties, of which Summerhayes was a member, disembarked and began their work on the Mole made all the more difficult by their losses prior to arriving,: ‘Captain Halahan, commanding the naval storming forces, who repeatedly told me this was to be his last fight, was shot down and killed at the outset. Commander Edwards, standing near him on the gangway deck, was also shot down and completely incapacitated. Colonel Elliot, commanding the Marine storming forces, and his second-in-command, Major Cordner, were killed on the bridge... Many others were killed or wounded. The death of so many brave men was a terrible blow. Nobody knew better than they the tremendous risk attached to their actions; the pity of it was that they should not have lived to see the success for which they were so largely responsible.’
Summerhayes was himself wounded by shell fire, but managed along with the other survivors to get back to the Vindictive and be clear of the Mole by 1:15 a.m. The blocking ships at the Zeebrugge end were in position and their task successfully completed by 12:45 a.m. (The Distinguished Service Medal 1914-1920, by W. H. Fevyer refers).
176 officers and men were killed in the attack, with 412 wounded. Such was the bravery of all those involved aboard the three vessels that Article 13 of the Victoria Cross warrant was invoked. This stipulates that, when a corps or unit so distinguishes itself as to make it impossible to single out individuals, crosses should be awarded by a ballot of those who survived. Two Victoria Crosses were awarded to the Royal Navy by this method, and another two to the Royal Marines. Under a further provision of Article 13, all those who did not receive the V.C. had their records of service annotated to the effect that they had participated in the ballot for the V.C., and Summerhayes’ service record is thus annotated.
Summerhayes was subsequently borne on the books of H.M.S. Vivid I, was promoted Leading Seaman on 26 June 1918, and was invalided on 21 May 1919, ‘from a severe wound to the left hand in action’. He joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at Bristol on 3 January 1923, and was promoted Petty Officer on 14 January 1925. He was finally discharged on 30 January 1927, and died in 1967.
Sold with the recipient’s Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Certificate of Service; Certificate of Wounds, dated 23 April 1918; a Zeebrugge 1918 Association commemorative badge, named ‘F. G. Summerhayes, Vindictive’; several postcard photographs; a silver-plated napkin ring, with St. George slaying the dragon on the front and ‘Zeebrugge’ engraved on the reverse; and various magazines, booklets, and other ephemera.
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