Edward Bingham

He led his destroyer at Jutland until enemy shells sank her.

Edward Barry Stewart Bingham was born at Bangor Castle, County Down, on 26 July 1881. Educated at Arnold House and aboard the naval training ship Britannia, he became a midshipman in 1897. A lieutenant from 1903, he served aboard the Admiralty yacht Enchantress before joining the battlecruiser Invincible at the outbreak of the First World War. He fought at Heligoland Bight and the Falkland Islands in 1914, then commanded the destroyer Hornet.

On 31 May 1916, commanding Nestor at Jutland, he led his destroyer division against German destroyers and battlecruisers. With Nicator, he pressed his torpedo attack to close range under concentrated fire. Nestor was disabled and sank. Rescued by the Germans, he spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner. His Victoria Cross was announced on 15 September 1916 while he was still in captivity.

After his release, King George V presented the cross at Buckingham Palace on 13 December 1918. Bingham published his wartime memoirs in 1919 and resumed his naval career. Promoted captain, he commanded Enchantress, the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla and later the battleship Resolution. He became a naval aide-de-camp to the King and retired as a rear-admiral in 1932. He died in London on 24 September 1939 and was cremated at Golders Green.

Victoria Cross citation

For the extremely gallant way in which he led his division in their attack, first on enemy destroyers and then on their battle cruisers. He finally sighted the enemy battle-fleet, and, followed by the one remaining destroyer of his division (“Nicator”), with dauntless courage he closed within 3,000 yards of the enemy in order to attain a favourable position for firing the torpedoes. While making this attack, “Nestor” and “Nicator” were under concentrated fire of the secondary batteries of the High Sea Fleet. “Nestor” was subsequently sunk. Supplement to The London Gazette of 15 September 1916. 15 September 1916, Numb. 29751, p. 9067 Admiralty, 15th September, 1916.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers in recognition of their bravery and devotion to duty as described in the foregoing despatch:- Commander the Hon. Edward Barry Stewart Bingham, R.N. (prisoner of war in Germany). Major Francis John William Harvey, R.M.L.I. (killed in action).