Historical account: the battery was armed in July 1916 but did only fire during our Flanders offensive in 1918.
It fired the last time on the 18th October at about 3 p. m. and the next day the battery was taken by our troops.
2.—Germans Guns upon the jetty of Zeebrugge.
We will not study the guns, but we feel compelled to bring back to memory, one of the most striking naval operations of the Great War.
British Raid against Zeebrugge.
Loathing the countless crimes of the foe’s submarine warfare, Admiral Sir Jellicoe, the newly promoted First Sea Lord, brought forward a scheme for the bottling up of Zeebrugge and Ostend, the two outlets of the German Naval basis Bruges.
The operations, though of the boldest character, was agreed upon and attempted on April 22d 1918, eve of St Georges’ day, patron of England. Admiral Sir Roger Keyes was entrusted with the glorious mission.
Five old Cruisers loaded with ferro-concrete, with on board a crew mainly composed of volunteers were to carry that mission through. Three of these cruisers, namely: H. M. S. Thetis, Intrepid, and Iphigenia were bound for Zeebrugge; H. M. S. Brilliant and Sirius for Ostend. A flotilla composed of destroyers, submarines, several steam barges and motor trawlers had to cooperate in the action.
The attack against Zeebrugge seeming the more difficult of the two had to be shouldered by the old cruiser H. M. S. Vindictive and the two Liverpool carriers Iris and Daffodil. These units were to undertake a daring diversion in dashing for the pier.
It was 5 o’clock p. m. when the fleet was concentrated at about 63 miles off the coast and from thither directed towards the two goals. While a wind due North East was carrying forward a thick smoke screen produced by fume boats, the fleet sailed forth without raising the enemy’s attention.