Search results

Start typing

King George V's War Museum

A collection displayed at Windsor Castle by George V following the First World War

BELGIUM

Piece of concrete from the Zeebrugge raid

1918

RCIN 69428

On 23 April 1918 the British enacted a raid on the Zeebrugge mole, a long concrete harbour wall which reached into the sea from the Belgian town. The purpose of the raid was to block the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge, which the Germans were using as submarine bases. The cruiser HMS Vindictive and the repurposed Mersey ferries Daffodil and Iris II were deployed to land Royal Marines on the mole so that they could distract the Germans and destroy shore batteries. Meanwhile, three old British cruisers filled with concrete were to be scuttled at the narrow entrance of the Zeebrugge harbour. When they exploded and damaged the mole, pieces of concrete were flung over a wide area and this piece landed on a fender on HMS Vindictive.

Zeebrugge Mole©

    The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.