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The Channel Islands and the Great War
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Guernsey's
Zeebrugge Hero
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William John Helman's Service record states that he participated
in the ballot for the V.C. granted for operations against
Zeebrugge, 22nd and 23rd April 1918 (London Gazette 23/7/18).
However he did not receive any award, and despite Dickinson's
mention of his bravery he wasn't even officially mentioned
in dispatches. After his return to Guernsey, a local newspaper
reported that "
. hundreds of islanders must
have seen
. the grim but treasured mementoes of
a great deed - the cutlass and revolver carried by Seaman
Helman at Zeebrugge, in the window at Mr Freeman's antique
shop, Pollet. He was honoured and fêted by the highest
officials. For instance His Excellency General Sir Reginald
C. Hart V.C, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., the Lieut Governor of Guernsey,
accompanied him on two motor car rides and sent his car
on 11 other occasions. Mr E. Chepmell Ozanne, Bailiff,
also entertained him."
However, the same newspaper also notes that he entered
Haslar hospital and was a patient for some time at Sanitoria
at Frimley and Brompton. This is listed on his service
record as being on a shore base. He was eventually sent
home with his King's Certificate on a pension of £2
per week on 12 November 1919.
John William Helman died at home in Guernsey of a lung
condition on 28 February 1920, age 23. The editorial of
the Star of March 1920 makes very sad reading. It is headed
"Zeebrugge Hero's Funeral - an unfortunate blunder".
It describes Helman's funeral procession from the Castel
Hill to St Andrew's Cemetery as consisting of an uncovered
coffin borne by four carriers, with seven followers. It
goes on to state that "Seaman John Helman was
one of those brave lads who volunteered to take part,
at the risk of almost certain death, in the Zeebrugge
expedition. He came back with his life but has since succumbed
after a long and painful illness to the effects of "Gassing"
then received."
The reason for the poorly attended funeral is given as
the fact that "His parents, trusting the promise
of someone in authority that full military or naval honours
should be accorded to the dead sailor, made no arrangements
whatever for a private funeral
..The parents and
relatives justly feel enraged. Their boy, a dearly loved
son, was accorded hardly a decent burial and their resentment
and sorrow run deep. So far as we have been able to ascertain,
this much regretted error appears to have been due to
the miscarriage of an order. Captain Cowley, C.R.O. had
made arrangements whereby a gun carriage and a party of
soldiers would have been present, but although the funeral
was delayed for a considerable time they did not arrive
..We understand that a letter of apology for this
unfortunate oversight has been sent to the bereaved family.
Seaman Helman took a gallant part in the famous Zeebrugge
raid, and his sad death has brought to an untimely close
a most promising naval career."
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An imposing memorial to John William Helman, designed
and made by Mr E. Henry, Monumental Sculptor and Mason,
of the Bordage, stands in St Andrew's Parochial Cemetery,
in Guernsey. It was erected by the London Channel Islands
Society Comforts Fund, and says "R.I.P. In grateful
memory of Able Seaman John William Helman of H.M.S. Daffodil.
Oldest son of Colour Sergeant E.W. Helman, who died on
the 28th of February 1920 at the age of 24 years and 6
months as the result of exposure during the famous naval
raid on Zeebrugge, April 22 - 23 1918. This memorial is
presented by the local committee administering the Comforts
Fund of the London Channel Islanders Society."
A photograph of its unveiling on the front page of the
Weekly Press of 6th August 1921 is entitled "Our
Zeebrugge Hero", and an article inside the newspaper
carries a report of the ceremony, which contrasts sharply
with his funeral. It was attended by "a number
of leading islanders and servicemen, all anxious to be
present and to honour the remains of a Guernsey hero".
Guernsey
Roll of Honour entry
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The Bailiff, Sir Edward Chepmell Ozanne,
K.B.E unveiled the memorial, described as "
a
marble cross on a pedestal. Before the cross is an anchor,
entwined by cordage to the central pillar." Also
present at the ceremony were the Bailiff's wife, various
local men of importance such as Messrs Gervaise F. Peek,
S.A. Candon, R.J. Collins, H. Britten and A.I. Le Patourel,
the Douzaine, the Poor Law Board and Churchwardens of
St Andrews and representatives of the London Channel Islands
Society.
The military was represented by Lieut. F.
Boxall, RN (coastguards), Captain E. Cowley, MBE, (Army,
the same Captain Cowley who made the unfortunate "blunder"
at Helman's funeral), and Sergt. J. Ryan, Lance Corporal
L. Phelan and Private T. O'Brien (Garrison Military Police),
and Bugler M.J. Cryan.
The Vauxbelets choir, under the direction
of Frère Cels, was stationed on the lower slopes
of the cemetery, and Reverend Father Thomas Hickey, D.D.,
PhD, Roman Catholic Dean of Guernsey, conducted the ceremony.
The Bailiff was invited to unveil the memorial, in a speech
which described the late A.B. Helman as "
one
of the volunteers for service when that daring feat (the
Zeebrugge raid) was performed, and his bravery on that
occasion was so marked that he was one of several recommended
for the highest honour that can be conferred on a soldier
or sailor - the Victoria Cross."
The Bailiff then made "a brief but
very impressive address, which visibly affected the parents",
before recalling his meetings with Helman. After describing
the raid as "a hell upon earth", he went
on to say that "It was important to remember that
the men were volunteers, and that each man had been warned
that he would go to almost certain death." He then
unveiled the memorial, which had been covered with a Union
Jack, saying "Their name liveth for evermore".
After some items by the choir, prayers and a hymn, the
ceremony concluded with Bugler Cryan sounding the Last
Post.
However the "blunders" seem to
have continued. Despite the fact that AB John William
Helman is commemorated on the St Andrew's Parish memorial
and on the Bailiwick Memorial in St Peter Port, a search
of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records reveal
no entry for him. He qualifies for official recognition,
because he died as a result of illness caused by his war
service, within the prescribed time limit.
Thus "our Zeebrugge hero" did
not receive any awards in his lifetime, nor did he have
the funeral with military honours, or an official war
grave to which he was entitled.
![](../../../honour/guernsey/database/pix/helman-jw-new2.jpg) |
The Admiralty has now investigated
his case and given him the recognition that he deserved
(Oct 2011). A new CWGC headstone was erected in
April 2016 and placed alongside his original memorial
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Mark Bougourd & Liz Walton
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CWGC Workers erecting his new
headstone
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Bibliography
Service record of JW Helman, PRO no.ADM.188/700
Pitt, B (2003) Zeebrugge: Eleven VCs before breakfast,
London, Cassell Military Paperbacks.
ADM137/3894 Reports on the Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids
April-May 1918. National Archives
London Gazette, 18 February 1919
Guernsey Weekly Press, 13 March 1920.
Guernsey Weekly Press, 6 August 1921.
The Star, 6 March 1920
See also:
Albert McKenzie VC
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© Liz Walton 2007
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Liz
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