Humphrey Firman

Humphrey Osbaldston Brooke Firman VC

In early 1916, Lieutenant Humphrey Osbaldston Brooke Firman was given his first command on the Tigris: the newly commissioned gunboat HMS Greenfly, one of sixteen “Butterfly” class vessels built for service on the river.

On the evening of 24 April 1916, Firman undertook one of the most desperate attempts of the Mesopotamian campaign. At 8:00 p.m., the steamer Julnar, carrying 270 tons of supplies, left Falahiyah in an effort to break through to the besieged garrison at Kut. She was commanded by Lieutenant Firman, Royal Navy, with Lieutenant-Commander Charles Henry Cowley, RNVR, assisting him.

The departure of the Julnar was covered by every available artillery piece and machine gun, in the hope of distracting the Turkish forces along the river. Despite this, the vessel was discovered and came under heavy fire as she made her way upstream.

At 1:00 a.m. on 25 April, General Townshend reported that the Julnar had not arrived. Around midnight, heavy firing had been heard at Magasis, roughly nine miles by river from Kut, before suddenly falling silent. There was little doubt that the mission had failed. The following day, aerial reconnaissance reported that the Julnar had fallen into Turkish hands at Magasis.

Firman was killed during the action. His body was reportedly found in the cabin of the Julnar and buried by the Turks at Magasis. If the grave was ever marked, it was later lost, and he is now commemorated on the Basra Memorial.

For his conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, Firman was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. His medal was presented to his father by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 28 February 1917. The medal is now held by the York Castle Museum, York.