The attack, several times postponed owing to the unfavourable weather, was carried out on April 22, 1918. The flotilla put to sea during the day. When about twelve miles off Zeebrugge, the boats parted company, each taking up its assigned position. The Vindictive, Iris and Daffodil advanced behind a smoke screen to within a few cable-lengths of the mole, when a change of wind dispersed the smoke, leaving them fully exposed to view. Enemy sirens immediately gave the alarm. Searchlights, rockets and star-shells lit up the scene, and the air was immediately filled with the roar of artillery and the crackling of machine-guns.
Amid bursting shells, and swept by machine-gun fire, the Vindictive succeeded in anchoring alongside the mole, but her deep draught and the surf prevented her remaining in position, until held by the Daffodil. Most of the eighteen gangways were smashed by the cruiser's rolling. The Iris was also in difficulties, her grappling irons being too small to catch hold. Two officers, Capt. Bradford and Lieut. Hawkins, climbed up the side of the mole and endeavoured to fasten the grappling irons. Both were killed. A landing was nevertheless effected, and in spite of heavy losses and the death of Colonel Elliot and Captain H. C. Halahan, the sailors and marines advanced along the mole, under very heavy fire, and for an hour destroyed the enemy's organisations, magazines, sheds, machine-gun posts, etc.
Zeebrugge. One of the German destroyers sunk by the British. (See photo, p. [75].)
Zeebrugge. The "Intrepid" and "Iphigenia", sunk in the Channel. Beyond, in the harbour: the "Thetis" (See sketch, p. [77].)
Meanwhile, the blockading cruisers had entered the port and were steering for the channel, despite the violence of the bombardment. The Thetis was leading, but her propeller becoming entangled in a net, she was unable to advance further, and her crew blew her up on a sandbank in front of the channel. The Intrepid, followed by the Iphigenia, reached the channel, placed themselves across it and were then blown up. The crews were picked up by the motor-boats.
The funnels of the "Vindictive", on her return from Zeebrugge.
After being summarily repaired, the "Vindictive" accomplished her last exploit, by bottling up Ostend Harbour on May 11, 1918. (See page [68].)