Interesting lot Old Worcesters ... following on from Dennis Wheatley. Captain Gordon Steele VC ... he was Captain Superintendent when I joined HMS Worcester in the Michaelmas Term 1955. A silver haired, kindly gentleman who, if cut in half would have had printed right through him, like a stick of rock HMS Worcester. A Worcester cadet himself he was a father figure to the ship and obtained not only the third Worcester ... HMS Exmouth used as a Depot ship for Submarines and Minesweepers in Scapa Flow during WW II but procured endless additions for the ship, masts, rigging, boats, a Bofors gun of all things and amongst the last a huge and wonderfull model of the P&O liner Strathnaver. he was always keen to have ex OW's in the Royal Navy bring their ships alongside amongst was the famous submarine HMS Thule of which she was but one ... photo attached. Capatain Steele, who we all called "Diddy" was also famous for his VC exploit ... He was 26 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.... from Wikipedia ...... 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 torpedoed the battleship Andrei Pervozanni at 100 yards range. He then manoeuvred the CMB in a very confined space to get a clear shot at the other battleship Petropavlosk before making for the safety of the bay. He later achieved the rank of Captain and served in the Royal Navy during World War 2. 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. Needless to say, a great time was had by all in the mess that night. We had a visit by Cadets from the Russian training ship "Equator" which berthed in London. "Diddy" addressed them in fluent Russian and as he stood there we all wondered if they knew just what this Capatin addressing them had done to a couple of their warships back in 1919 !! photo of the event attached. Prior to that he was an officer aboard HMS Baralong, a Q-ship and witnessed the "Infamous" incident which, knowing something of Captain Steele I would say sickened him .... On August 19, 1915, Lieutenant Godfrey Herbert RN of the HMS Baralong sank U-27 which had been preparing to sink a nearby transport ship. About a dozen of the U-boat sailors survived and swam towards the merchantman; Herbert, fearing that they would scuttle her, ordered them to be shot at not only as they swam towards the transport but as they climbed aboard and then sent a boarding party which killed the German sailors who reached her; this became known as the "Baralong Incident". Capatin Gordon Steele was much admired by not only us cadets but his staff and the London Shipping scene at large. A very Christian man.
As a Lieutenant Gordon Steele VC was part of the Unknown Warriors VC Guard of Honour who took part in the Westminster Abbey service on Armistice Day VC HONOUR GUARD
Captain Gordon Charles Steele VC RN 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. He was 26 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 torpedoed the battleship Andrei Pervozanni at 100 yards range. He then manoeuvred the CMB in a very confined space to get a clear shot at the other battleship Petropavlosk before making for the safety of the bay. He later achieved the rank of Captain and served in the Royal Navy during World War 2. 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. Needless to say, a great time was had by all in the mess that night. NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Gordon Steele If you scroll down to Gordon Charles Steele you'll be able to see his headstone ... if you haven't already seen it ! DEVONSHIRE
