War hero who saved 38 men from drowning honoured with plaque
Grandson pays tribute to 'modest man' Geoffrey Drummond and his role in Ostend raids
Monday, 21st May 2018 — By Tom Foot
The plaque event celebrating Navy man Geoffrey Drummond
A FIRST World War hero from Westminster, who saved 38 lives during raids on German ports, has been recognised with a commemorative plaque.
A service (pictured) was held in Victoria Embankment Gardens celebrating the achievements of Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Heneage Drummond VC, born in 1886 in St James’s Place.
John Drummond, his grandson, said: “ On behalf of the 25 Drummond family members here today, I would firstly like to thank the Westminster City Council for commemorating my grandfather, so that his bravery and that of all those who participated in the Zeebrugge and Ostend raids are not forgotten. Secondly, although he was born a mile away in St James’s Place, I am delighted his memorial stone is beside the River Thames, as he died on active service in 1941 downstream from here, as an Able Seaman in the Royal Naval Patrol Service, having been told that he was too old to return as an officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
“A modest man, I think he would nevertheless have been very pleased and honoured to be remembered here.”
Geoffrey Drummond took up yacht- ing at a young age and decided to join the RNVR in 1915 at the age of 31.
On April 23 1918 the Royal Navy launched two raids on German occupied ports, Zeebrugge and Ostend.
The Ostend raid involved HMS Vindictive “scuttling itself”. Geoffrey Drummond was part of a crew that rescued 38 men from the sinking boat in spite of a shell landing near the rescue that wounded him and killed two other men. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the action that day.
The council’s “armed forces champion” Cllr Rachael Robathan said: “It is an honour to remember and commemorate the actions of Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Heneage Drummond, whose incredible bravery should not be forgotten. We are thankful for this opportunity to bring together the military and civilian communities in Westminster in common purpose.”
The council is running a series of VC commemoration events during the centenary.
