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Tue, April 23 2024, 6:31:38 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
Subject: Re: Marines Corps Flanders during Zeebrugge Raid 1918


Author:
Paul Kendall
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Date Posted: 01:57:44 02/27/03 Thu
In reply to: Johan Ryheul 's message, "Re: Marines Corps Flanders during Zeebrugge Raid 1918" on 09:49:50 02/26/03 Wed
 Dear Johan,

Just in case you did not recieve my email message. Many thanks for your response to my questions regarding Zeebrugge. I was very pleased to read your opinion. I spent most of last week in Belgium at Brugges archives and In Flanders Museum Archives to try and find some proof that the British operations at Zeebrugge and Ostend in 1918 were failures. I have studied many documents at the Imperial War Museum, Public Records Office and Royal Marines Museum and read about the heroism of the british sailors and Royal Marines, but I have questioned the success of the raids. I was hoping to find someway of measuring the failure of the raids by trying to find a list of German vessels that passed through the canal at Brugge pass the blockships. I could not find any material.

I am writing a book on this subject and would like to find the truth the behind the raids. I would be interested in writing to you further about this fascinating subject. I would be interested in the following if it is not too much trouble for you. I would pay you for postage, cost of prints and time.

I would be very grateful for a list of all vessels that passed through the canal. I could then try to investigate the patrols of each of these vessels to find if they sunk any Allied ships after the raid. Really would like to see the two photos of the submarine passing the canal in August 1918.

I would also be very interested to read the accounts / reports of the defenders on the Mole.

I have so many questions to ask, but the first are:

1.) I have always thought that during the raid, during the darkness and chaos of the fight on the Mole there must have been instances when seamen or Royal Marines were killed as a result of friendly fire. Are you suggesting that Commander Harrison was killed in an accidental fight with Brock?

2.) I was in Zeebrugge Churchyard last Thursday morning and noted that there are two unknown British Naval Officer graves. Do you think that either Commander Harrison or Lt Claude Hawking (from the Iris) lie in this grave?

3.) You mentioned that you do not think that Matrose Kunne was not killed by Commander Harrison. Is this the same Hermann Kunne T.M.TR. who is buried in Zeebrugge Churchyard?

4.) Do you have an exact number of German defenders on the Mole on 23rd April 1918 and a number of those killed or wounded. In a book entitled Friechsorter Kriegsbuch by Felix Glatzer he states the figures of 8 dead and 16 wounded.

5.) Regarding the capture of CMB 33A I read in Deborah Lake's book that there documents regarding the operation and that she believed that the German Navy knew of the Briitish plan to attack Zeebrugge and Ostend. Do you agree? Deborah also states that the crew of CMB 33A surrendered. i found a report in the Public Records Office listing the all crew onboard CMB 33A. i looked their names on Commonwealth war Graves Commission Website and appears that they were all killed on the night of 12th April 1918. On Saturday I visited Lieutenant Robert Angus grave at Coxyde Military Cemetery and the graves of three other seaman in Dunkirk Town Cemetery.

I will stop asking too questions, but this is an interesting subject. I have lots of documents regarding British testimonies so if you are interested I can send to you, no problem.

On Friday I have a days holiday booked so i have an appointment to study the Zeebrugge documents at Dover History museum. On Saturday I visit the Public Records Offices to view Royal Marines court Martial records. I want to analyse why No. 7 Royal Marine Platoon did not parade before the raid and if they were punished.

Thank you for taking the time to give me your valued opinion, I really appreciate it and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Paul Kendall
Paulkendall291@aol.com
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Re: Marines Corps Flanders during Zeebrugge Raid 1918Johan R15:11:21 02/27/03 Thu

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