Major Edward BamfordVC, DSO 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 Commonwealthmilitary forces. Edward Bamford was also awarded the DSO for his gallantry aboard at the Battle of Jutland, the ship that also was the scene for the actions of Boy 1st ClassJohn 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, and Blanch Edith Bamford. The family lived at Lynton House, 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 who was one of the founders of Aston Martin and Arthur Bamford were also educated as day boys at Sherborne School. 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 September 1905, Edward joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry and served at various times in HMS Bulwark, Magnificent, Britannia, Chester, Royal Sovereign, and Highflyer.
VC action
Bamford 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 was published in the London Gazette, 23 July 1918: 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 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 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.
