Just at the time when these operations were being completed, Lieutenant Sandford's submarine succeeded, despite the terrific artillery fire, in reaching the open-work part of the mole, where she was blown up, shooting flames to a height of nearly 5,000 feet, and making a breach over 60 feet wide in the jetty. A motor-boat picked up her crew.
A German torpedo-boat and the Brussels were sunk by motor-launches. (The "Brussels" was captured by the Germans on June 24, 1916. Her commander, Captain Fryatt, was shot on July 27, for having rammed the German submarine U-33).
The open-work portion of the Mole destroyed by the British submarine, (Lieut. Sandford). Inset: temporary bridge built by the Germans and destroyed by them before their retreat.
The Vindictive's siren recalled the landing-party, who succeeded in bringing back most of their killed and wounded. The flotilla then weighed anchor and returned to Dover.
The operation had succeeded as well as could be expected. The two cruisers, although displaced slightly later by the Germans, blocked the channel, making it impossible for ships of other than light draught to go through. The Thetis also helped to obstruct the entrance to the channel.
British Graves in Zeebrugge Cemetery.
The cross bears the following inscription (in German): "Three English officers, seven English marines, two English sailors, two English stokers".