The Zeebrugge Raid on St. George’s Day April 1918 was an audacious attempt by the Royal Navy to neutralise the activities of the German U-boats that were intent on bringing Britain and her allies to their knees. Crucial to the operational effectiveness of the German submarine fleet was the canal system that linked Zeebrugge to Bruges eight miles inland. The Navy sank obsolete ships in the canal entrance, to prevent German vessels from leaving port, suffering heavy casualties in the process.
Clive will tell the story of the raid from conception, through planning to its impact and cost.
Clive is the co-owner of leading battlefield tour operators Battle Honours and Staff Ride Ltd. He has led tours across the Western Front, Italy, Salonika, Gallipoli, Italy and Palestine as well as numerous Second World War battlefields. He leads the WFA Tours to France and Belgium
He has written books on the Home Front in the Second World War and sportsmen who fell in the Great War. Clive served in the Royal Signals in BAOR and became a staff Instructor at RMA Sandhurst. He has an MA in Great War Studies.
This meeting will be held in Cobham. Members of The Western Front Association and non-members are equally welcome. We ask for a modest £5 donation on the door. This includes tea, coffee and biscuits at the break (before the Q&A session with the speaker).
Members joining us at Cobham can use our new cashless card system and use their credit card/phone with the new reader that will be available at the signing-in desk.
To help make things easier and safer, we are asking those coming to Cobham to bring their own mug for coffee or tea.
Clive’s talk starts at 8pm. Doors open at Cobham at 7:15pm and the meeting starts at 7:45pm.
The photo is an Aerial view of the blockships in the Bruges ship canal channel at Zeebrugge after the raid. From left to right the ships are HMS INTREPID, HMS IPHIGENIA and HMS THETIS. © IWM Q 20648B