David Broadfoot

David Broadfoot GC (21 July 1899 – 31 January 1953) was a Scottish seaman awarded the George Cross for his role during the sinking of the MV Princess Victoria.

He was born in Stranraer, Scotland and served in the merchant navy during World War II.

He was Radio Officer on the MV Princess Victoria, which sank in 1953 in the North Channel in the worst maritime disaster in United Kingdom waters since World War II. Broadfoot remained at his post while the ship was sinking, sending messages to shore stations to enable them to locate the ship. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest award for bravery to British civilians.

His grandchildren eventually donated his George Cross to the Stranraer town museum, where it is now on display along with other memorabilia from the sinking.

George Cross Citation

 * "The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to make undermentioned award :-


 * GEORGE CROSS.


 * David BROADFOOT (deceased), Radio Officer, m.v. "Princess Victoria". (Stranraer.)


 * "Princess Victoria" left Stranraer on the morning of 31st January, 1953, carrying 127 passengers for Larne. After leaving Loch Ryan she encountered north-westerly gales and squalls of sleet and snow. A heavy sea struck the ship and burst open the stern doors and sea water flooded the space on the car deck causing a list to starboard of about 10 degrees. Attempts were made to secure the stern doors but without success. The Master tried his ship back to Loch Ryan but the conditions were of such severity that the manoeuvre failed. Some of the ship's cargo shifted from the port to the starboard side and this increased the list as the crippled vessel endeavoured to make her way across the Irish Sea.


 * From the moment when "Princess Victoria" first got into difficulties, Radio Officer Broadfoot constantly sent out wireless messages giving the ship's position and asking for assistance. The severe list which the vessel had taken, and which was gradually increasing, rendered his task even more difficult. Despite the difficulties and danger he steadfastly continued his work at the transmitting set, repeatedly sending signals to the coast radio station to enable them to ascertain the ship's exact position.


 * When "Princess Victoria" finally stopped in sight of the Irish Coast her list had increased to 45 degrees. The vessel was practically on her beam ends and the order to abandon ship was given. Thinking only of saving the lives of passengers and crew, Radio Officer Broadfoot remained in the W/T cabin, receiving and sending messages although he must have known that if he did this he had no chance of surviving. The ship finally foundered and Radio Officer Broadfoot went down with her. He had deliberately sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save others."

Grave
His gravestone is in the Inch Parish Churchyard in Inch, Scotland; several memorials of the disaster are located on both sides of the North Channel.

Brief history of ships’ radio officers
David Broadfoot stayed at his post for so long that he lost all chance of saving himself and went down with the ship. He had continued a tradition of service established from a time when the radio officer of the Titanic went down with the ship in 1912. So many wireless operators were lost during the Second World War, some 1,400 - one for every three ships, that the Ministry of Shipping issued a notice to shipmasters to make special arrangements for their radio and engine room crew when the ship was abandoned.