Statue in Tower Bridge Road, Bermondsey, London, depicting Albert McKenzie VC d. 1918
Location
Tower Bridge Road, Bermondsey, London.
Transcript
"ABLE SEAMAN ALBERT EDWARD MCKENZIE / BORN BERMONDSEY 23RD OCTOBER 1898 / HMS VINDICTIVE, ZEEBRUGGE RAID 23RD APRIL, 1918 / DIED CHATHAM 3RD NOVEMBER 1918 / AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS FOR / "MOST CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY / OUR LOCAL HERO"
Details
Description: Steel statue of Mackenzie in a contemporary style, on a concrete plinth made from a section of the harbour wall at Zeebrugge.
Type: Statue
Materials: Steel
Date Erected: 24 October 2015
Vessel: HMS Vindictive
Type: Statue
Materials: Steel
Date Erected: 24 October 2015
Vessel: HMS Vindictive
Event
Zeebrugge Raid
Event Date
1918
Event Category
1914-1918 First World War
People
McKenzie, Albert
Age: 20
Date of Death: 1918
Cause of Death: Infectious Disease
Rank / Occupation: Able Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Age: 20
Date of Death: 1918
Cause of Death: Infectious Disease
Rank / Occupation: Able Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Extra
Notes: The Zeebrugge Raid was an attempt by the British Royal Navy, during the First World War, to try and knock out the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge in use throughout the war as an Imperial German Naval base for submarines.
The raid took place on the 23rd April 1918 and Albert McKenzie there distinguished himself for his heroic dedication to duty and to his comrades. An Able Seaman aboard the lead ship in the raid, HMS 'Vindictive', McKenzie armed with a Lewis gun dutifully followed his commanding officer onto the harbour wall and fought gallantly throughout the action. Despite having his gun shot from his hands, McKenzie, a proficient boxer, fought his way through the German ranks to get back to his ship, in-spite of having received multiple wounds in both the back and the foot. For his bravery, zeal and conspicuous gallantry he was awarded the Victoria Cross. However, a few weeks after the raid he unfortunately contracted the Spanish Flu and perished, aged 20, on the 3 November 1918.
McKenzie was the first sailor from London to receive the Victoria Cross. He is burred in Camberwell Old Cemetery.
Recorder: Graham Thompson. 09/08/2017
The raid took place on the 23rd April 1918 and Albert McKenzie there distinguished himself for his heroic dedication to duty and to his comrades. An Able Seaman aboard the lead ship in the raid, HMS 'Vindictive', McKenzie armed with a Lewis gun dutifully followed his commanding officer onto the harbour wall and fought gallantly throughout the action. Despite having his gun shot from his hands, McKenzie, a proficient boxer, fought his way through the German ranks to get back to his ship, in-spite of having received multiple wounds in both the back and the foot. For his bravery, zeal and conspicuous gallantry he was awarded the Victoria Cross. However, a few weeks after the raid he unfortunately contracted the Spanish Flu and perished, aged 20, on the 3 November 1918.
McKenzie was the first sailor from London to receive the Victoria Cross. He is burred in Camberwell Old Cemetery.
Recorder: Graham Thompson. 09/08/2017