Norman Augustus Finch, VC (26 December 1890 – 15 March 1966) was a Royal Marines soldier and a recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life and career

Finch was born 26 December 1890 in

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...

. He enlisted in the Royal Marines in January 1908 and received basic training at

Eastney Eastney is a district in the south-east corner of Portsmouth, England, on Portsea Island. Its electoral ward is called Eastney and Craneswater. At the 2011 Census the population of this ward was 13,591. History Barracks and fortifications Ea ...

. For the next four years he served on various ships and shore stations and, in June 1913, was promoted to bombardier. This was soon followed by further rises to

corporal Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by many militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase ("head of a body"). The rank is usually the lowest ranking non- ...

in 1915 and sergeant in 1917. He joined the 4th Battalion on 23 March 1918.

Victoria Cross

Finch was 27 years old, and a sergeant in the

Royal Marine Artillery The history of the Royal Marines began on 28 October 1664 with the formation of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot soon becoming known as the Admiral's Regiment. During the War of the Spanish Succession the most historic achi ...

, Royal Marines during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the

(VC). On 22/23 April 1918 at

Zeebrugge Zeebrugge (, from: ''Brugge aan zee'' meaning "Bruges at Sea", french: Zeebruges) is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zee ...

, Belgium, Sergeant Finch was second in command of the pom-poms and Lewis gun in the foretop of HMS ''Vindictive''. At one period ''Vindictive'' was being hit every few seconds, but Sergeant Finch and the officer in command kept up a continuous fire, until two heavy shells made direct hits on the foretop killing or disabling everyone except Sergeant Finch who was, however, severely wounded. Nevertheless, he remained in his battered and exposed position, harassing the enemy on the Mole until the foretop received another direct hit, putting the remainder of the armament completely out of action. His award was by virtue of ballot.

Later career and life

Finch retired with the rank of

quartermaster sergeant Quartermaster sergeant (QMS) is a class of rank or appointment in some armed forces, especially those of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and formerly also in the United States. Ireland Quartermaster sergeant () appointments in the Irish ...

in December 1929, though returned to the Portsmouth Division in 1938. He appears to have spent most of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

as quarter master, serving as a storekeeper officer (

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

) at 104 (Training) RM Brigade, R.M. Training Group Dalditch, then Devon. On 15 August 1945 he was released from service and in 1964 was made divisional sergeant major of HM Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard. He died 15 March 1966. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the

Royal Marines Museum The Royal Marines Museum is a museum on the history of the Royal Marines from their beginnings in 1664 through to the present day. A registered charity, it is also a designated service museum under the terms of the National Heritage Act 1 ...

Southsea Southsea is a seaside resort and a geographic area of Portsmouth, Portsea Island in England. Southsea is located 1.8 miles (2.8 km) to the south of Portsmouth's inner city-centre. Southsea is not a separate town as all of Portsea Island's s ...

. Finch was a Freemason and was initiated into Lodge of Hope No. 2153 at Portsmouth on 18 September 1918. He was subsequently a founding member of Royal Marine Portsmouth Lodge No. 6423 when it was consecrated on 23 April 1947, and was their first Senior Warden. The following year he was installed as their second Worshipful Master – on the thirtieth anniversary of the

Zeebrugge Raid The Zeebrugge Raid ( nl, Aanval op de haven van Zeebrugge; ) on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the Royal Navy to block the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge. The British intended to sink obsolete ships in the canal entrance, to prevent Germ ...

References

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
''(Hampshire)''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finch, Norman Augustus 1890 births 1966 deaths Military personnel from Birmingham, West Midlands Royal Marines ranks Royal Marines officers British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Royal Marines personnel of World War I Royal Marines personnel of World War II Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom) Freemasons of the United Grand Lodge of England People from Handsworth, West Midlands