Gerard Broadmead Roope
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Commander Gerard Broadmead Roope VC
RN
(13 March 1905 - 8 April 1940) was a posthumous British
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. Being a 35-year-old Royal Navy
commanding officer, his action was the first awarded a VC in the Second World War (although the award was gazetted after the hostilities), and he is one of very few to have the award justified, in part, by a recommendation and supporting evidence provided by the enemy.
(1,345 tons), commanded by Lt-Cdr Roope, engaged two enemy destroyers while heading alone to Norway's West Fjord
. After one of the enemy ships was hit, they both broke off and retreated to the north. Though aware that the enemy destroyers were attempting to draw him towards German capital ships, he gave chase. Glowworm soon spotted the German cruiser Admiral Hipper
(14,000 tons). He alerted the Home Fleet before turning to engage the cruiser. Glowworm fired ten torpedoes but scored no hits and was soon battered by enemy rounds and set on fire. With only three guns still firing, Roope successfully rammed the cruiser as a last gesture of defiance. Glowworm then fired one more salvo, scoring a hit, before she capsized and sank. Of the crew of 149, one officer and 30 men survived and were chivalrously picked up by the Admiral Hipper. Lt-Cdr Roope was drowned in the course of assisting rescue of survivors. The extensive damage she had sustained forced the Admiral Hipper to return to port for repairs. The Admiral Hippers commander, Kapitän zur See Heye
, wrote to the British authorities via the Red Cross, recommending award of the VC for his opponent's courage while engaging a vastly superior warship.
d on 10 July 1945, and presented to his widow on 12 February 1946. This Victoria Cross is currently in private ownership and is not on public display.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
RN
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(13 March 1905 - 8 April 1940) was a posthumous British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces. Being a 35-year-old Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
commanding officer, his action was the first awarded a VC in the Second World War (although the award was gazetted after the hostilities), and he is one of very few to have the award justified, in part, by a recommendation and supporting evidence provided by the enemy.
Gallantry in action
On 8 April 1940, in the Norwegian Sea, HMS GlowwormHMS Glowworm (H92)
HMS Glowworm was a G-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. During the Spanish Civil War the ship spent part of 1936 and 1937 in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict...
(1,345 tons), commanded by Lt-Cdr Roope, engaged two enemy destroyers while heading alone to Norway's West Fjord
Vestfjord
Vestfjord is a Norwegian fjord, which would be described as a firth or an open bight of sea between the Lofoten archipelago and mainland Norway, northwest of Bodø...
. After one of the enemy ships was hit, they both broke off and retreated to the north. Though aware that the enemy destroyers were attempting to draw him towards German capital ships, he gave chase. Glowworm soon spotted the German cruiser Admiral Hipper
German cruiser Admiral Hipper
Admiral Hipper, the first of five ships of her class, was the lead ship of the Admiral Hipper–class of heavy cruisers which served with the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The ship was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg in July 1935 and launched February 1937; Admiral Hipper...
(14,000 tons). He alerted the Home Fleet before turning to engage the cruiser. Glowworm fired ten torpedoes but scored no hits and was soon battered by enemy rounds and set on fire. With only three guns still firing, Roope successfully rammed the cruiser as a last gesture of defiance. Glowworm then fired one more salvo, scoring a hit, before she capsized and sank. Of the crew of 149, one officer and 30 men survived and were chivalrously picked up by the Admiral Hipper. Lt-Cdr Roope was drowned in the course of assisting rescue of survivors. The extensive damage she had sustained forced the Admiral Hipper to return to port for repairs. The Admiral Hippers commander, Kapitän zur See Heye
Hellmuth Heye
Hellmuth Guido Alexander Heye was born on August 9th, 1895, son of father, August Wilhelm Heye, and mother Else Karcher Heye. Hellmuth was a German admiral in World War II and politician in post-war Germany. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, wrote to the British authorities via the Red Cross, recommending award of the VC for his opponent's courage while engaging a vastly superior warship.
The medal
The award was London GazetteLondon Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
d on 10 July 1945, and presented to his widow on 12 February 1946. This Victoria Cross is currently in private ownership and is not on public display.