Lieutenant Richard Douglas Sandford, VC

Richard Douglas Sandford

• Born 11 May 1891
• Cathedral Close, Exeter, Devon
• Died 23 November 1918 (aged 27)
• Eston Hospital, Yorkshire
• Buried Eston Cemetery
• Allegiance United Kingdom
• Service/branch Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
• Years of service 1904 - 1918
• Rank Lieutenant
• Commands held

• HMS C3
  
• HMS G11
  

• Battles/wars

• World War I
  
• Zeebrugge Raid
  

• Awards Victoria Cross
• Relations Brigadier Daniel Sandford (brother)

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 great-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.

Reference - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Sandford

British Royal Navy, Foreign Awards to officers index 1914-1922

findmypast Transcription

• First name(s) Richard Douglas
• Last name Sandford
• Year 1914-22
• Service number -
• Rank Lieutenant
• Regiment H.M. Submarine G11
• Service branch Royal Navy
• Death year 1918
• Death date 23 Nov 1918
• Cause of death Illness.
• British awards VC
• Foreign award France - Legion of Honour - Chevalier.
• Date of award C.W.33039/18 Batch January 18. French Nominations.
• Ship in which serving or services for which given Sous marin a' Zeebrugge 22-23 April 1918.
• Notes C.W.33039/18 Batch January 18. French Nominations. Sous marin a' Zeebrugge 22-23 April 1918.
• Medal type British Royal Navy, Foreign Awards To Officers Index 1914-1922
• Country Great Britain
• ADM/172 Book/Page No 172/014
  

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Lieutenant SANDFORD, RICHARD DOUGLAS

• Died 23/11/1918
• Aged 27
• H.M. Submarine G.11.
• Royal Navy
• V C

Son of Ethel R. Sandford, of 15, The Beacon, Exmouth, Devon, and the late Ven. E. G. Sandford, Archdeacon of Exeter.

CITATION

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."

• Buried at ESTON CEMETERY
• Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
• Cemetery/memorial reference: J. U. 709.
  

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/408472/sandford,-richar...

https://www.submarinersassociation.co.uk/index.php/lt-r-d-sandford-vc

• His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.