Norman Douglas Holbrook
Lieutenant, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 579 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS B11) all HMS B11 VCs →
- Date of action
- 13 December 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 22nd December, 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Born
- 9th July 1888 at Southsea, Hampshire
- Died
- 3rd July 1976 at Midhurst, Sussex
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 13th December, 1914 in the Dardanelles, Lieutenant Holbrook was in command of the submarine B.11, an old and obsolete craft built in 1905. Notwithstanding the difficulties of treacherous currents in the Straits, he dived under five rows of mines and torpedoed and sank the Turkish battleship, Messudiyeh, which was guarding the mine-field. He then succeeded in bringing the B.11 back to the Mediterranean, in spite of being attacked by gunfire and torpedo boats. When they got back to safety the B.11 had been submerged for nine hours
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HOLBROOK, Norman Douglas. (reg No. 579).
Lieutenant. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 22nd December, 1914.
Born on 9th July 1888 at Southsea, Hampshire.
Died on 3rd July 1976 at Midhurst, Sussex.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 13th December, 1914 in the Dardanelles, Lieutenant Holbrook was in command of the submarine B.11, an old and obsolete craft built in 1905. Notwithstanding the difficulties of treacherous currents in the Straits, he dived under five rows of mines and torpedoed and sank the Turkish battleship, Messudiyeh, which was guarding the mine-field. He then succeeded in bringing the B.11 back to the Mediterranean, in spite of being attacked by gunfire and torpedo boats. When they got back to safety the B.11 had been submerged for nine hours.
Additional information:. Commander Holbrook served at the Admiralty during World War II.
Additional information
Commander Holbrook served at the Admiralty during World War II.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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