David Broadfoot

This article is about the British recipient of the George Cross. For the Canadian radio comedian, see Dave Broadfoot.

David Broadfoot
GC
Born(1899-07-21)21 July 1899
Stranraer, Scotland
Died31 January 1953(1953-01-31) (aged 53)
North Channel
Resting placeParish churchyard, Inch, Dumfries and Galloway
NationalityScottish
Awards George Cross

David Broadfoot GC (21 July 1899 – 31 January 1953) was a Scottish seaman awarded the George Cross for his bravery during the sinking of the MV Princess Victoria in the North Sea flood of 1953.

He was born in Stranraer, Scotland. By 1917, he had gained a radio license and later qualified as a ship's Radio Officer. In this capacity, he served in merchant navy during both World War I and World War II.[1]

In October 1950, he joined the crew of the MV Princess Victoria.[1] He was serving on board the ship on 31 January 1953, when it sank in the North Channel east of Belfast with 135 fatalities in the worst maritime disaster in United Kingdom waters since World War II. Broadfoot remained at his post while the ship was sinking, sending messages to shore stations to enable them to locate the ship.[2] He was posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest award for bravery to British civilians.

In 1999, his grandchildren donated the George Cross to the Stranraer town museum, where it is now on display along with other memorabilia from the sinking.

  1. ^ a b "Radio Officer David Broadfoot". maritimeradio.pro. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference vconline was invoked but never defined (see the help page).