Lieutenant-Commander Gerard Broadmead Roope VC RN (March 13, 1905 - April 8, 1940) 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. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since Construction and commissioning Glowworm was ordered from the yards of John I Lieutenant Commander ( Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy) is a Commissioned officer rank in many navies Superior See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located As a 35 year old Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, he is one of a handful of people awarded the Victoria Cross based on evidence provided by the enemy. Lieutenant Commander ( Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy) is a Commissioned officer rank in many navies Superior The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Roope was also the first VC winner of the Second World War.
On 8 April 1940 in the Norwegian Sea, West Ford, Norway, Lieutenant-Commander Roope commanding HMS Glowworm (1,345 tons) fought an unequal duel with the German cruiser Admiral Hipper (10,000 tons). Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Construction and commissioning Glowworm was ordered from the yards of John I History Admiral Hipper took part in the German invasion of Norway ( Operation Weserübung) In the encounter Glowworm was soon battered and burning and eventually, as a last gesture of defiance, her commander decided to ram the cruiser, which resulted in a good deal of damage to the latter. Glowworm then fired one more salvo, scoring a hit, before she capsized and sank. One officer and 30 men were picked up by Admiral Hipper's captain, but Lieutenant-Commander Roope drowned.
Lieutenant-Commander Gerard Broadmead Roope was recommended by his enemy, the Commanding Officer of the Admiral Hipper, Kapitän zur See Heye, who was so impressed by the gallantry of Roope that he wrote via the Red Cross to the British authorities and gave a statement of the valiant courage LtCdr Roope had shown when engaging in a close battle with a much superior ship. Hellmuth Guido Alexander Heye ( 9 August 1895 in Beckingen &ndash 10 November 1970 in Mittelheim) was a German
The medal
This Victoria Cross is currently in private ownership and is not on public display. [1]
References
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
External links
182 Victoria Crosses were awarded to 181 service personnel for gallant acts carried out during the Second World War. Monuments to Courage Victoria Cross Monuments and Headstones is a two-volume book by David Harvey, published in 1999 on the last resting places of 1322 of the 1350 The Register of the Victoria Cross is a Reference work that provides brief information on every VC ever awarded it provides a summary of the deed alongDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic