FINCH Norman Augustus VC RM Dalditch

Norman Augustus Finch VC RM
26/12/1890 – 15/03/1966

A Royal Marine soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross
On 22/23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Sgt 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 Sgt Finch and the Officer in Command kept up continuous fire until two
heavy shells made direct hits on the foretop killing and disabling everyone except Finch who was however severely wounded. Nevertheless, he remained in his position. His award was by virtue of ballot
Norman Finch retired with the rank of Quartermaster Sgt in Dec 1929 and returned to Portsmouth Division in 1938. He spent most of WW2 as Quartermaster at 104 (Training) RM Brigade, RM Training Group Dalditch in Devon. In 1964 he was made Divisional Sgt Major of HM Bodyguard of Yeoman of the Guard.