Wilhelm Heidkamp
Wilhelm Heidkamp (born January 22, 1883 in Herkenrath , † October 1931 in Untereschbach ) was a German NCO in the Imperial Navy .
Life
After school, Heidkamp learned the trade of machine fitter. At the age of 19, he joined the Imperial Navy in 1902. There he served as a pump master on several ships.
From 1912 Heidkamp was part of the crew of the large cruiser SMS Seydlitz , on which he also took part in the battle on the Dogger Bank on January 24, 1915 . After the Seydlitz had received a 34.3 cm hit in the aft gun turret from the British battle cruiser HMS Lion at 10:40 a.m. and a total of 6000 kg of propellant powder had been burned off, Heidkamp opened the flood valves and flooded the ammunition chambers in the rear turrets. He suffered severe burns and smoke poisoning. Through his actions he prevented the explosion of the ready-to-use ammunition there and the almost certain destruction of the ship.
After his recovery, Heidkamp continued to serve on the Seydlitz until she was submerged in Scapa Flow on June 21, 1919. Heidkamp then came into British captivity , from which he did not return to Germany until 1920.
Since he could no longer work as a locksmith because of his war injuries, he took over his father's general store in Untereschbach . Heidkamp was married and had four children.
Honors
- The Navy named the destroyer Z 21 Wilhelm Heidkamp after him.
- Wilhelm-Heidkamp-Strasse in Immekeppel
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ so the local researcher Willi Fritzen
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Heidkamp, Wilhelm |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German NCO in the Imperial Navy |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 22, 1883 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Herkenrath |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 1931 |
| Place of death | Untereschbach |