Percy Dean
Lieutenant-Commander Percy Thompson Dean VC (20 July 1877 – 20 March 1939)[1] 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, and also a politician.
Percy Thompson Dean | |
|---|---|
 Group of Naval VC winners at Wellington Barracks hosted by King George V. Percy Dean on left | |
| Born | 20 July 1877 Blackburn, Lancashire |
| Died | 20 March 1939 London, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Commander |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | _ribbon.png.webp){kind=small} Victoria Cross |
| Other work | Member of Parliament |
Victoria Cross
Dean was 40 years old and a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 22 and 23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, after Intrepid and Iphigenia had been scuttled, their crews were taken off by Motor Launch 282 commanded by Lieutenant Dean. He embarked more than 100 officers and men under constant and deadly fire from heavy and machine-guns at point blank range. This complete, he was about to clear the canal when the steering gear broke down, so he manoeuvred on his engines and was actually clear of the entrance to the harbour when he was told there was an officer in the water. He immediately turned back and rescued him.[2]
He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.
Post-war
After the war, he was elected at the 1918 general election as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Blackburn, serving until the 1922 general election. He was chairman of the Moelferna and Dee Side Slate and Slab Quarries Company in Wales between the wars.[3]
His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.
References
- Percy Thompson Dean on Lives of the First World War
- "No. 30807". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 July 1918. p. 8586.
- Annual Register. J. Dodsley. 1940.
- The Four Blackburn VC's (HL Kirby and RR Walsh)
- The Corvette Navy (Stoddart, 2000)
- 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)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Percy Dean
- Location of grave and VC medal (Golders Green)
- Percy Dean at Find a Grave
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Philip Snowden Sir Henry Norman |
Member of Parliament for Blackburn 1918–1922 With: Sir Henry Norman |
Succeeded by Sir Henry Norman and Sydney Henn |