Edward Bamford

Major Edward Bamford VC, DSO (28 May 1887 – 30 September 1928) 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 military forces.

Edward Bamford was also awarded the DSO for his gallantry aboard HMS Chester at the Battle of Jutland, the ship that also was the scene for the actions of Boy 1st Class John Cornwell who, posthumously, became a recipient of the VC at the age of sixteen.

Early life and career
Edward Bamford was born on 28 May 1887 to the Rev. Robert Bamford, Chaplain to the Yeatman Hospital in Sherborne (died 9 November 1898, aged 44), and Blanch Edith Bamford (later Mrs E.B. Bamford, 89, Bloomfield Avenue, Bath). The family lived at Lynton House (now known as Abbot's Litten), Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset.

Edward was educated at Sherborne Preparatory School, and later at Sherborne School, which he attended as a day boy from September 1900 until April 1902. His two brothers, Robert Bamford (1884-?) and Arthur Bamford (1889-1915) were also educated as day boys at Sherborne School. Robert became one of the founders of the company that made Aston Martin and was the original designer of the car. Arthur, who became a Private in the Grenadier Guards, was killed near Loos on 11 October 1915 and is commemorated at St Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes, IX.D.13., and on the Sherborne School War Memorial and Sherborne School Book of Remembrance

In 1905, Edward joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry and served at various times in H.M.S. Bulwark, Magnificent, Britannia, Chester, Royal Sovereign, and Highflyer.

VC action
He was 30 years old, and a captain in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Royal Marines during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Captain Edward Bamford's Victoria Cross Citation, London Gazette, 23 July 1918: ''For conspicuous gallantry at Zeebrugge. April 1918. This officer landed on the Mole from "Vindictive" with Nos. 5, 7 & 8 platoons of the Marine Storming Force in the face of great difficulties. When on the Mole under heavy fire, he displayed the greatest initiative in the command of his company, and by his total disregard of danger, showed a magnificent example to his men. He first established a strong point on the right of the disembarkation, and when that was safe, led an assault on a battery to the left with the utmost coolness and valour. Captain Bamford was selected by the officers of the R.M.A & R.M.L.I detachements to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, dated 26 January 1856.''

As with several World War I actions where so many officers and ranks distinguished themselves, such as "The Six VCs Before Breakfast" won by the Lancashire Fusiliers at Gallipoli, the Royal Marines Zeebrugge VCs were awarded by ballot, whereby those involved in the action voted for whom they deemed to merit the award. He later achieved the rank of Major.

Death
Bamford died of pneumonia on 30 September 1928 aboard the HMS Cumberland en route to Hong Kong, where he held the appointment of Instructor of Small Arms and Musketry Officer at Hong Kong. He was buried in the Bubbling Well Road Cemetery in Shanghai. A 1930s photograph in the RM Museum shows a picture of his grave and headstone. All remaining cemeteries containing "foreigners" were destroyed in the Cultural Revolution. Bubbling Well Road Cemetery is now Jing'an Park.

Memorials to Edward Bamford are in the Depot Church in Deal and there is a Bamford House in the RM Barrack at Eastney. On 3 April 2004, the Royal Marines presented a plaque in his memory to the Officials of Zeebrugge. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Marines Museum in Southsea, England.

An obituary for Major Edward Bamford, V.C., appeared in The Shirburnian, the Sherborne School magazine, December 1928: ''Major Bamford, the son of the late Rev. Robert Bamford, was born in 1887, and was a day-boy at Sherborne from 1900 to 1902. He joined the R.M.L.I in 1905, and served at various times in H.M.S. Bulwark, Magnificent, Britannia, Chester, Royal Sovereign, and High Flyer. He was gazetted Captain in 1916, and awarded the D.S.O. for his services at the Battle of Jutland. He won his V.C. as a leader of the landing party from the Vindictive on the Zeebrugge Mole on St. George's Day, 1918, and he will always be remembered as one of the outstanding heroes of that most gallant adventure. He died of pneumonia on September 30th, in China, where he held the appointment of Instructor of Small Arms and Musketry Officer at Hong Kong. In him Sherborne mourns one of her most distinguished sons.''

Honours and awards
Apart from the Victoria Cross and Distinguished Service Order, Bamford also received the Russian Order of St. Anna, 3rd Class with Swords on 5 June 1917, French Legion of Honour on 23 May 1919, Japanese Order of the Rising Sun 4th Class in August 1921, 1914/15 Star (MID), British War Medal and Victory Medal.