Zeebrugge Raid Commemoration

The 95th Anniversary of the Dover Patrol's heroic and historic St. George's Day raid on Zeebrugge in 1918 will be commemorated on Tuesday 23rd April 2013 with ceremonies at St James' Cemetery and The Zeebrugge Bell at Dover Town Hall.

The parade participants will include the Town Mayor of Dover, Councillor Mrs Anne Smith, the Mayors of Deal and Folkestone and a civic party including serving members of the Armed Forces, local ex-service organisations and representatives from Belgium. They will proceed to St James' Cemetery for a short service and the placing of the wreaths at the Zeebrugge Memorial, near to the grave of Admiral Lord Keyes, who planned and led the daring raid, and the graves of many of the gallant Marines and Sailors who lost their lives.

It was a most inspiring episode in recent British and Belgian history. Despite the terrible loss of life, the history books show that the Zeebrugge Raid had a significant influence in hastening the end of the First World War.

After the ceremony at St James' Cemetery, the parade will return to Dover Town Hall, where a brief service will take place, including the time-honoured ringing eight bells on the Zeebrugge Bell by the Town Mayor at noon.

As in previous years, residents of Dover and other members of the public are welcome to observe the commemorations, in particular the ringing of the Zeebrugge Bell at noon. The bell was a gift to the people of Dover from the King of Belgium.