Geoffrey Drummond

Brought his damaged launch and wounded crew away under fire.

Geoffrey Heneage Drummond was born in Westminster on 25 January 1886. A childhood neck injury caused lasting pain and interrupted his education. He attended several schools, briefly studied at Christ Church, Oxford, and trained in estate management at Cirencester. His experience as a yachtsman helped prepare him for service in small naval craft.

He volunteered for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1915 and commanded Motor Launch 254 from late 1917. During the second attempt to block Ostend harbour on the night of 9-10 May 1918, his launch went alongside the blockship Vindictive to take off men after it was scuttled. Enemy fire killed members of the launch's crew and wounded Drummond. He nevertheless kept directing the rescue and brought the damaged craft away with thirty-eight of Vindictive's men aboard. He remained in control until assistance arrived, although badly weakened by his wounds.

Drummond received the Victoria Cross, presented by King George V on 11 September 1918, and the French Legion of Honour. He finished the war as a lieutenant commander. Persistent disabilities made civilian employment difficult, but he eventually worked at Imperial Chemical Industries.

When the Second World War began, he again sought naval service. After rejection for a commission on medical and age grounds, he joined the River Emergency Service in a junior rating and later the Royal Naval Patrol Service. In April 1941 his injured leg gave way while he carried coal, causing a serious head injury. He died in hospital on 21 April and was buried at Chalfont St Peter.

Victoria Cross citation

Volunteered for rescue work in command of M.L. 254. Following “Vindictive” to Ostend, when off the piers a shell burst on board, killing Lieutenant Gordon Ross and Deckhand J. Thomas, wounding the coxswain, and also severely wounding Lieutenant Drummond in three places. Notwithstanding his wounds he remained on the bridge, navigated his vessel, which was already seriously damaged by shell fire, into Ostend harbour, placed her alongside “Vindictive,” and took off two officers and thirty-eight men \u2013 some of whom were killed and many wounded while embarking. When informed that there was no one alive left on board he backed his vessel out clear of the piers before sinking exhausted from his wounds. When H.M.S. “Warwick” fell in with M.L. 254 off Ostend half an hour later the latter was in a sinking condition. It was due to the indomitable courage of this very gallant officer that the majority of the crew of the “Vindictive” were rescued.