Edward Bamford
Captain, Royal Marine Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 49 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Royal Marine Light Infantry all Royal Marine Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 22–23 April 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 23rd July 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 28th May 1887 at London
- Died
- 29th September 1928 at Shanghai, China
- Memorial / grave
- Bubbling Well Rd., Cemetery, Shanghai, RM Depot Church at Deal, Kent & RM Museum Southsea
- Medal held by
- the Royal Marine museum, Eastney Barracks,
Digest of citation
On 22/23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Captain Bamford landed on the Mole from HMS Vindictive with three platoons of the Royal Marines storming force in the face of great difficulties. When on the Mole and under heavy fire, he commanded his company with total disregard of personal danger and showed a magnificent example to his men. He first established a strong point on the right of the disembarkation and when satisfied that it was safe, led an assault on a battery to the left. (VC awarded by Ballot. See Zeebrugge Page)
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BAMFORD, Edward (Reg. No.49)
Captain Royal Marine Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on 23rd July 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Marine museum, Eastney Barracks, Southsea, Hants.
Born on 28th May 1887 at London.
Died on 29th September 1928 at Shanghai, China.
Memorial at Bubbling Well Rd., Cemetery, Shanghai, RM Depot Church at Deal, Kent & RM Museum Southsea.
Digest of Citation reads: On 22/23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Captain Bamford landed on the Mole from HMS Vindictive with three platoons of the Royal Marines storming force in the face of great difficulties. When on the Mole and under heavy fire, he commanded his company with total disregard of personal danger and showed a magnificent example to his men. He first established a strong point on the right of the disembarkation and when satisfied that it was safe, led an assault on a battery to the left. (VC awarded by Ballot. See Zeebrugge Page)
Additional information: He was the son of the Rev. and Mrs Robert Bamford of 34, Langdon Park Rd., London. His education at Sherbourne was followed by further tuition at Malvern House, Kearnsey, Nr. Dover by Mr R.A. Hammond. His began his career in the RM on the 1st September 1905 as a 2nd Lieut. He attended the Royal Naval College, Greenwich , where he excelled. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st July 1906. He joined the Portsmouth Division of the RMLI on the 1st July 1907. In 1908 he served with the Channel Squadron in HMS Bulwark, in March 1910 he joined HMS magnificent, in the 3rd Division Home Fleet. On 5th September 1911 he joined HMS Brittania. It was whilst on the way to support the cruisers at the Battle of Dogger Bank that Brittania ran aground, thus missing the action. In May 1916 he was promoted T/Captain and he joined HMS Chester, serving on her during the Battle Of Jutland where the ship was hit several times. For his action in this battle he was awarded the DSO.(Gazetted 15th Sept 1916) He was wounded in the face and leg when a shell burst in the after control. With a smaller gun-crew he helped to work one gun whilst controlling another. He also helped put out a fire. The following 19th of August the Chester was torpedoed. (Also HMS Nottingham). Promoted to Captain on the 1st September 1916. He took command of the 4th Battalion Royal Marines which would go on to great glory in the Battle of Zeebrugge and Bamford would win the VC.
From Alf's photographs
Finch/Bamford - Eastney Barracks (RM Museum) (gallery)
Additional information
He was the son of the Rev. and Mrs Robert Bamford of 34, Langdon Park Rd., London. His education at Sherbourne was followed by further tuition at Malvern House, Kearnsey, Nr. Dover by Mr R.A. Hammond. His began his career in the RM on the 1st September 1905 as a 2nd Lieut. He attended the Royal Naval College, Greenwich , where he excelled. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st July 1906. He joined the Portsmouth Division of the RMLI on the 1st July 1907. In 1908 he served with the Channel Squadron in HMS Bulwark, in March 1910 he joined HMS magnificent, in the 3rd Division Home Fleet. On 5th September 1911 he joined HMS Brittania. It was whilst on the way to support the cruisers at the Battle of Dogger Bank that Brittania ran aground, thus missing the action. In May 1916 he was promoted T/Captain and he joined HMS Chester, serving on her during the Battle Of Jutland where the ship was hit several times. For his action in this battle he was awarded the DSO.(Gazetted 15th Sept 1916) He was wounded in the face and leg when a shell burst in the after control. With a smaller gun-crew he helped to work one gun whilst controlling another. He also helped put out a fire. The following 19th of August the Chester was torpedoed. (Also HMS Nottingham). Promoted to Captain on the 1st September 1916. He took command of the 4th Battalion Royal Marines which would go on to great glory in the Battle of Zeebrugge and Bamford would win the VC.
Southsea, Hants.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Bubbling Well Rd., Cemetery, Shanghai, RM Depot Church at Deal, Kent & RM Museum Southsea
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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