author
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
1881–1955
A decorated Royal Navy officer who led one of the most daring raids of the First World War, he became widely known for his courage at Zeebrugge. His life combines naval adventure, wartime leadership, and the kind of real-world heroism that reads like fiction.
1 Audiobook
The Blocking of Zeebrugge
by Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
About the author
Born in Barnes, London, on 17 September 1881, Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter joined the Royal Navy as a young man and went on to build a long naval career. He saw active service in places including Crete and China before becoming best known for his role in the First World War.
In April 1918, he commanded HMS Vindictive during the Zeebrugge Raid, a dramatic British attack on the German-held Belgian port. For his leadership and bravery in that action, he received the Victoria Cross, one of the highest awards for gallantry in the British armed forces. He was also honored by France and later rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral.
Carpenter died in 1955. He is remembered above all for calm, determined leadership under extreme danger, and for his part in one of the war's most famous naval operations.