Lieutenant RICHARD DOUGLAS SANDFORD
Royal Navy
H.M. Submarine G.11.
Died 23 November 1918
Age 27 years old
- Country of Service United Kingdom
- Awards Victoria Cross
- Additional Info Son of Ethel R. Sandford, of 15, The Beacon, Exmouth, Devon, and the late Ven. E. G. Sandford, Archdeacon of Exeter.
- Additional Citation note
An extract from the Fourth Supplement to "The London Gazette," of 19th July, 1918, referring to the raid on Zeebrugge, 23rd April, records the following:- "For most conspicuous gallantry. This officer was in command of Submarine C.3. and most skilfully placed that vessel in between the piles of the viaduct before lighting his fuse and abandoning her. He eagerly undertook this hazardous enterprise, although well aware (as were all his crew) that if the means of rescue failed and he or any of his crew were in the water at the moment of the explosion, they would be killed outright by the force of such explosion. Yet Lieutenant Sandford disdained to use the gyro steering, which would have enabled him and his crew to abandon the submarine at a safe distance, and preferred to make sure, as far as was humanly possible, of the accomplishment of his duty."
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