Norman Augustus Finch

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

FINCH, Norman Augustus.(reg. No.402).

Sergeant (later Lieutenant and Quartermaster.) Royal Marine Artillery.

London Gazetted on 23rd July 1918 VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Marine museum, Eastney Barracks, Southsea, Hants.

Born on: 26th December 1890 at Handsworth, Birmingham.

Died on: 15th March 1966 at Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Memorials at: St Andrews Church Eastney Royal Marine Barracks, and in RM Museum, Southsea.

Digest of Citation reads: On 22/23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Sergeant Finch was second in command of the pom-poms and Lewis gun in the foretop of HMS Vindictive. At one period Vindictive was being hit every few seconds, but Sergeant Finch and the officer in command kept up a continuous fire, until two heavy shells made direct hits on the foretop killing or disabling everyone except Sergeant Finch who was, however severely wounded. Nevertheless he remained in his battered and exposed position, harassing the enemy on the Mole until the foretop received another direct hit, putting the remainder of the armament completely out of action. (Sergeant Finch was elected by ballot under Rule 13.)

Additional information. He was also the recipient of the MSM The account of Sergeant Finch, of the Royal Marine Artillery, tells us that on the 22 and 23 of April 1918, Sergeant Finch was the second in command of the pom-pom and Lewis gun in the foretop of HMS Vindictive. During one period, the Vindictive sustained hits every few seconds. The officer in command and Finch kept up a perpetual flow of fire. Two heavy enemy shells hit them directly on the foretop; killing or disabling the others. Severely wounded himself, Sergeant Finch kept harassing the enemy, entre nched on the Mole, from his battered and exposed position. Another direct hit finally put the rest of the armament out of action.(VC 1856-1920) Sergeant Finch, later to become a Lieutenant, was Born on in Handsworth, Birmingham on Boxing Day 1890. He was a Sergeant-Major in the Queen's Bodyguard of Yeoman of the Guard in 1961. His VC was Gazetted on the 23 of July 1918 He Died on in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 15 March 1966. He was cremated at Porchester. There is no epitaph is in the Book Of Memory there. The Crematorium records show that his ashes were sent to Southampton crematorium but they have no further records. There is a memorial at the Eastney Barracks (Royal Marine Museum.) Southsea. This includes a model of the mole at Zeebrugge and the actual Lewis gun used by Sgt Finch in the fighting top of the HMS Vindictive. There is said to be a Freemason's Jewel bearing his name at the Harmony Lodge at Horndean, Hampshire.