Richard Douglas Sandford
Encyclopedia
Richard Douglas Sandford VC
(11 May 1891-23 November 1918) was a Royal Navy
officer and an English
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. He was a son of the Venerable Ernest Grey Sandford, Archdeacon of Exeter; his grandfather was Daniel Sandford, the Bishop of Edinburgh
, and his brother was Brigadier Daniel Sandford.
Richard Sandford attended Clifton College
whence he joined the Royal Navy. At 26 years old, he was a Lieutenant
commanding a submarine, HMS C3
in the Royal Navy during the First World War
when he took part in the Zeebrugge Raid
and won the Victoria Cross. The citation read:
Sandford died of typhoid fever
at Eston
Hospital, North Yorkshire
, 12 days after the signing of the Armistice
, and the day after his last command, HMS G11
, had been wrecked on rocks off Howick
, Northumberland
; his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Britannia Royal Naval College
, Dartmouth
.
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....
(11 May 1891-23 November 1918) was a 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...
officer and an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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
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...
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. He was a son of the Venerable Ernest Grey Sandford, Archdeacon of Exeter; his grandfather was Daniel Sandford, the Bishop of Edinburgh
Daniel Sandford (bishop of Edinburgh)
The Rt Revd Daniel Sandford was Bishop of Edinburgh from 1806 until 1830.He was born in 1766 at Delville, near Dublin, Ireland, the son of Reverend Daniel Sandford and Sarah Chapone.He married Helen Frances Catherine Douglas, on 11 October 1790...
, and his brother was Brigadier Daniel Sandford.
Richard Sandford attended Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
whence he joined the Royal Navy. At 26 years old, he was a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
commanding a submarine, HMS C3
HMS C3
HMS C3 was a British C class submarine built by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 25 November 1905 and was commissioned on 23 February 1906....
in the Royal Navy during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when he took part in the Zeebrugge Raid
Zeebrugge Raid
The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to neutralize the key Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge...
and won the Victoria Cross. The citation read:
Sandford died of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
at Eston
Eston
Eston is a town within the Unitary Authority of Redcar and Cleveland, England. Within the Middlesbrough agglomeration it falls inside the Greater Eston initiative...
Hospital, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, 12 days after the signing of the Armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
, and the day after his last command, HMS G11
HMS G11
HMS G11 was a G-class submarine of the Royal Navy in service during the First World War. One of six of her class built by Vickers at Barrow in Furness, she was launched on 22 February 1916, and commissioned on 13 May 1916.-War service:...
, had been wrecked on rocks off Howick
Howick
Howick can refer to:Places*Howick, KwaZulu-Natal**Howick Falls*Howick, Lancashire, a small town in England*Howick, Monmouthshire*Howick, New Zealand**Howick Historical Village*Howick, Northumberland, a small town in England**Howick house...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
; his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
.
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Cleveland)
- Sandford VC (action details & citation)