Percy Dean
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Percy Thompson Dean, VC (20 July 1877 – 20 March 1939)[1] was a British businessman, politician, sailor, and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, and also a politician.
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]
Dean later achieved the rank of lieutenant commander.
Post-war
After the war, Dean 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]
Dean was one of 100 VC recipients to form the VC Guard of Honour at the State Funeral for the Unknown Warrior held on 11 November 1920.
Dean's VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.
Memorials
On 23 April 2003, a blue plaque was unveiled at Dean's former residence at 19 Gorse Street, Blackburn.[4]
In April 2018, a stone was unveiled outside Blackburn Town Hall to recognise Dean in a ceremony attended by Dean's family and local dignitaries.[5]
References
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External links
- Pages with script errors
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- 1877 births
- 1939 deaths
- People from Blackburn
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- UK MPs 1918–1922
- British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross
- People educated at Bromsgrove School
- Royal Navy officers of World War I
- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War I
- Politics of Blackburn with Darwen
- 19th-century Royal Navy personnel
- Military personnel from Lancashire