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 .