Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
(1881-1955), Vice-Admiral; recipient of the Victoria CrossSitter in 12 portraits
Carpenter entered the Navy in 1897 and saw active service in Crete and during the Chinese Boxer uprising in 1900. During World War One, on 22/23 April 1918, he was in command of HMS Vindictive which was to land a force of two hundred Royal Marines on the mole at Zeebrugge, Belgium at the start of the Zeebrugge Raid designed to block the vital strategic port of Bruges. According to reports, Carpenter's 'great bravery when the ship came under heavy fire, did much to encourage similar behaviour on the part of the crew'. His power of command, personal bearing, and encouragement to those under him greatly contributed to the success of the operation and he was awarded the Victoria Cross. After a lecturing tour through the USA and Canada in 1918–19 he published his first-hand account of the war, The Blocking of Zeebrugge (1921).He retired in 1934 with the rank of Vice-Admiral.
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope
oil on canvas, 1918
NPG 3971
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x166392
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Olive Edis
matte bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1920s
NPG x5697
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 10 July 1929
NPG x124669
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Lafayette
whole-plate glass negative, 10 July 1929
NPG x69641
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Lafayette
whole-plate glass negative, 10 July 1929
NPG x69642
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Lafayette
whole-plate glass negative, 10 July 1929
NPG x69643
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 10 July 1929
NPG x85326
Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 10 July 1929
NPG x124668
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