Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter (September 17, 1881 - December 27, 1955) (VC, Croix de Guerre and Legion d'Honneur (France)) 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. September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ... French Legion of Honor The Légion dhonneur (Legion of Honor ( AmE) or Legion of Honour ( ComE)) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar. ... The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, the majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ...

Born in Barnes, SW London, son of Commander Alfred Carpenter and grandson of Commander Charles Carpenter. He attended Bedales School founded by his Uncle Edward Carpenter's close friend John Haden Badley. He was married to Henrietta Maude Shadwell and after her death in 1923 to Hilda Margaret Chearnley-Smith. Barnes is a suburb in south-west London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... Bedales School is a public school with a progressive ethos located in the village of Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire, England. ... Edward Carpenter (29 August 1844 – 28 June 1929) was a socialist poet, anthologist, and an early homosexual activist. ... John Haden Badley, at the age of 56, from the painting by Fred Yates John Haden Badley (February 21, 1865 – March 6, 1967), author, educator, and founder of Bedales School, which claims to have become the first coeducational public boarding school in England in 1893. ...

He was 36 years old, and a captain in the Royal Navy during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. This article concerns the rank and title of Captain. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire France Italy Russia Serbia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Paul von Hindenburg Reinhard...

On 22/23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Captain Carpenter was in command of HMS Vindictive, navigating mined waters and bringing the ship alongside the Mole in darkness. When Vindictive was within a few yards of the Mole, the enemy started and maintained a heavy fire from batteries, machine-guns and rifles. Captain Carpenter supervised the landing from Vindictive on to the Mole, walking the decks, encouraging the men. His power of command, personal bearing and encouragement to those under him greatly contributed to the success of the operation. April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Zeebrugge (French: Zeebruges) is a harbour-town at the coast of Belgium, a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. ...

Awarded by ballot. He later achieved the rank of Vice-Admiral. Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ...

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum (London, England). The Imperial War Museum is a museum in London featuring military vehicles, weapons, war memorabilia, a library, a photographic archive, and an art collection of 20th century and later conflicts, especially those involving Britain, and the British Empire. ...

References

• 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)

Monuments To Courage is a book by David Harvey, published in 1999. ... The Register of the Victoria Cross A list of all 1350 Victoria Crosses with details of each recipient ISBN 0906324033 Publisher: Cheltenham: This England Books; 1981 Size: 8vo - over 7 3/4 - 9 3/4 Pagination: 303 + 4. ... VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs is a 2002 book by Stephen Snelling. ...

External links

• Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter's biographic sketch at Find A Grave
• Location of grave and VC medal (Gloucestershire)
• The Raid on Zeebrugge

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission. Find A Grave is a website founded in 1995 by Jim Tipton. ...