Percy Thompson Dean

Percy Thompson Dean VC (20 July 1877 – 20 March 1939) 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 40 years old, and a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 22 and 23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, after "Intrepid" and "Iphigenia" had been scuttled, their crews were taken off by Motor Launch 282 commanded by Lieutenant Dean. He embarked more than 100 officers and men under constant and deadly fire from heavy and machine-guns at point blank range. This complete, he was about to clear the canal when the steering gear broke down, so he manoeuvred on his engines and was actually clear of the entrance to the harbour when he was told there was an officer in the water. He immediately turned back and rescued him.

He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.

After the war, he was elected at the 1918 general election as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Blackburn, serving until the 1922 general election.

References

*The Four Blackburn VC's (HL Kirby and RR Walsh)
*Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)
*Rayment

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/golders.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Golders Green)"
* [http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~mck/victori6.htm The Raid on Zeebrugge]
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