Gordon Charles Steele: Difference between revisions
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==Further information== |
==Further information== |
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He later achieved the rank of Captain and served in the Royal Navy during [[World War II]]. In 1940 he met, by chance, and for the first time, the pilot of the aircraft (by now [[Group Captain]] Fletcher, [[Royal Air Force|RAF]]) who had attacked the searchlight. |
He later achieved the rank of Captain and served in the Royal Navy during [[World War II]]. In 1940 he met, by chance, and for the first time, the pilot of the aircraft (by now [[Group Captain]] Fletcher, [[Royal Air Force|RAF]]) who had attacked the searchlight. |
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He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1958 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the BBC Television Theatre. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/devonshi.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Devonshire)'' |
* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/devonshi.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Devonshire)'' |
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* {{Find a Grave|8111440}} |
* {{Find a Grave|8111440}} |
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* [http://www.bigredbook.info/gordon_steele.html Gordon Steele's appearance on This Is Your Life] |
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Revision as of 10:30, 14 July 2015
Gordon Charles Steele | |
|---|---|
| File:VCGordonCharlesSteele.jpg | |
| Born | 1 November 1891 Exeter, Devon |
| Died | 4 January 1981 (aged 89) Winkleigh, Devon |
| Buried | All Saint's New Cemetery, Winkleigh |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War I Russian Civil War World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Captain Gordon Charles Steele VC (1 November 1891 – 4 January 1981) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
Steele was 27 years old, and a lieutenant in the Royal Navy serving with the North Russia Relief Force when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 18 August 1919 at Kronstadt, Russia, Lieutenant Steele was second-in-command of Coastal Motor Boat 88. Steele’s boat became illuminated by an enemy searchlight. Very heavy machine gun fire followed immediately, the Captain being killed and the boat thrown off course. A British aircraft saw the problem, dived on the searchlight and put it out with gunfire. Lieutenant Steele took the wheel and steadied the boat, lifting the dead officer away from the steering and firing position, and successfully torpedoed the battleship Andrei Pervozvanny at 100 yards range. He then manoeuvred the CMB in a very confined space to get a clear shot at the other battleship Petropavlovsk before making for the safety of the bay.[1]
Further information
He later achieved the rank of Captain and served in the Royal Navy during World War II. In 1940 he met, by chance, and for the first time, the pilot of the aircraft (by now Group Captain Fletcher, RAF) who had attacked the searchlight.
He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1958 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.
See also
- Claude Congreve Dobson - won VC in same action
- Augustus Agar - won VC in same campaign in similar action
References
- ^ "No. 31613". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 21 October 1919.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Gallant Gentlemen (Keble Chatterton)
External links
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- British recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Royal Navy personnel of the Russian Civil War
- Royal Navy officers of World War I
- Royal Navy officers of World War II
- 1892 births
- 1981 deaths
- Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War
- Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross
- People from Exeter