Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A Great War 1918 ‘Zeebrugge Raid’ casualty D.S.M. group of four awarded to Able Seaman F. H. Hide, Royal Navy, who was wounded whilst serving in the Block Ship H.M.S. Intrepid Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.3075 F. H. Hide, A.B. “Intrepid”. Zeebrugge-Ostend. 22-3 April, 1918.); 1914-15 Star (J.3075. F. H. Hide. A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.3075 F. H. Hide. A.B. R.N.) traces of lacquer, edge bruise to first, good very fine (4) £2,000-£2,600 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 23 July 1918: ‘For services in H.M.S. Intrepid during the operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of 22nd - 23rd April, 1918.’ Frederick Henry Hide was born in Camberwell, London, on 5 October 1891 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 19 October 1908. Advanced Able Seaman on 1 December 1911, he served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and at the time of the Zeebrugge Raid was borne on the books of H.M.S. Pembroke. 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. Sir Roger Keyes’ Despatch of 9 May 1918 states: ‘Intrepid (under the command of Lieutenant Stuart Bonham-Carter) had been unable to get rid of her spare watch of stokers, owing at first to the delay in her motor launch getting alongside, and apparently to the disinclination of the surplus crew to miss the coming fight. She therefore proceeded to the canal with 87 officers and men on board instead of 54. On approaching the Mole she came under heavy shrapnel fire. She rounded the lighthouse and, directed by Thetis, aground on her port hand, steered for the canal, very few guns firing at her, as they were concentrated on the Mole, doubtless at Vindictive and Thetis. On reaching his position in the canal, Lieutenant Bonham-Carter went full speed ahead with the starboard engine and full speed astern with the port helm hard-a-starboard. He then waited for the crew to get into the boats but finding the ship was making stern way he had to blow the sinking charges before the steaming party could get out of he engine room. Engineer Sub-Lieutenant E. V. Meikle, with his men, got into a cutter, of which he took charge, proceeded out past the Thetis till picked up by motor launch. Another cutter was picked up by the Whirlwind, and the skiff by Motor Launch 282. With the two officers and four petty officers Lieutenant Bonham-Carter lunched a Carley raft and went down the canal until picked up by motor launch 282. This motor launch came right into the canal under the stern of the Iphigenia - the next blocking ship - under a heavy fire. She was commanded by Lieutenant Percy Dean, R.N.V.R., whose conduct Lieutenant Bonham-Carter describes as ‘simply magnificent’ [for his most conspicuous gallantry Dean was awarded the Victoria Cross]. With the exception of Stoker Petty Officer H. L. Palliser, who was killed while in the motor launch by a machine gun, the whole crew got away. Lieutenant Bonham-Carter reports the exceptionally fine behaviour of the whole of his crew - deck and engine room alike - and I may say that here regarded the chances of escape from any of the blocking ships as very slender, and this was well-known to those who so readily volunteered for this hazardous service, and to the volunteer crews of the motor launches who ran equal risks in their work of rescue.’ Hide was wounded in action during the raid, and for his services was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Total casualties during the Zeebrugge Raid were 227 killed and 356 wounded, out of a total volunteer force of 1,700. Eight Victoria Crosses were awarded. Hide was invalided out of the service, presumably on account of the wounds he had received during the raid, on 25 November 1918. Sold with a copy of the General Order to the Fleet following the raid; various contemporary postcards of Zeebrugge; a copy of the book ‘Zeebrugge & Ostend Raids’, by Stephen McGreal; and copied research.