Gordon Charles Steele
Lieutenant, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 1181 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HM Coastal Motor Boat 88) all HM Coastal Motor Boat 88 VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 August 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Conflict / campaign
- North Russia Relief Force
- London Gazette
- 11th November 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Born
- the 1st November 1892 at Exeter, Devon
- Died
- 4th January 1981, at Winkleigh, Okehampton, Devon
- Memorial / grave
- at All Saints Cemetery, Winkleigh, Okehampton, Devon
- Medal held by
- Trinity House, Tower Hill, London. EC3N
Digest of citation
At Kronstadt, Russia, whilst second in command of Coastal Motor Boat 88, on 18th August 1919, his commanding officer having been killed and the boat thrown off course, Lieutenant Steele took the wheel and after steadying the boat, lifted the dead commanding officer away from the steering position. He then torpedoed the Russian Battleship Andrei Pervozanni from a range of 100 yards. After manoeuvring CMB 88 in a very confined space to take a clear shot at another Battleship, the Petropavlosk, prior to taking the CMB to the safety of the bay
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
STEELE, Gordon Charles. (reg No. 1181).
Lieutenant. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 11th November 1919.
VC Medal's Custodian is Trinity House, Tower Hill, London. EC3N 4DH.
Born on the 1st November 1892 at Exeter, Devon.
Died on 4th January 1981, at Winkleigh, Okehampton, Devon.
Memorial on grave at All Saints Cemetery, Winkleigh, Okehampton, Devon.
Digest of Citation reads: At Kronstadt, Russia, whilst second in command of Coastal Motor Boat 88, on 18th August 1919, his commanding officer having been killed and the boat thrown off course, Lieutenant Steele took the wheel and after steadying the boat, lifted the dead commanding officer away from the steering position. He then torpedoed the Russian Battleship Andrei Pervozanni from a range of 100 yards. After manoeuvring CMB 88 in a very confined space to take a clear shot at another Battleship, the Petropavlosk, prior to taking the CMB to the safety of the bay.
Additional information:. Commander Steele was the author of two books, Electrical Knowledge for Ship's Officers and The Story of the Worcester. He was, from 1929 to 1957, the Captain Superintendent of the training ship HMS Worcester, and in World War II served as Anti-Submarine Commander and the Inspector of Anti-Submarine Equipment.
Additional information
Commander Steele was the author of two books, Electrical Knowledge for Ship's Officers and The Story of the Worcester. He was, from 1929 to 1957, the Captain Superintendent of the training ship HMS Worcester, and in World War II served as Anti-Submarine Commander and the Inspector of Anti-Submarine Equipment.
4DH.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at All Saints Cemetery, Winkleigh, Okehampton, Devon
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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