William John Helman's Service record states that he participated in the ballot for the V.C. granted for operations against Zeebrugge, 22nd and 23rd April 1918 (London Gazette 23/7/18).

However he did not receive any award, and despite Dickinson's mention of his bravery he wasn't even officially mentioned in dispatches. After his return to Guernsey, a local newspaper reported that "…. hundreds of islanders must have seen …. the grim but treasured mementoes of a great deed - the cutlass and revolver carried by Seaman Helman at Zeebrugge, in the window at Mr Freeman's antique shop, Pollet. He was honoured and fêted by the highest officials. For instance His Excellency General Sir Reginald C. Hart V.C, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., the Lieut Governor of Guernsey, accompanied him on two motor car rides and sent his car on 11 other occasions. Mr E. Chepmell Ozanne, Bailiff, also entertained him."

However, the same newspaper also notes that he entered Haslar hospital and was a patient for some time at Sanitoria at Frimley and Brompton. This is listed on his service record as being on a shore base. He was eventually sent home with his King's Certificate on a pension of £2 per week on 12 November 1919.

John William Helman died at home in Guernsey of a lung condition on 28 February 1920, age 23. The editorial of the Star of March 1920 makes very sad reading. It is headed "Zeebrugge Hero's Funeral - an unfortunate blunder". It describes Helman's funeral procession from the Castel Hill to St Andrew's Cemetery as consisting of an uncovered coffin borne by four carriers, with seven followers. It goes on to state that "Seaman John Helman was one of those brave lads who volunteered to take part, at the risk of almost certain death, in the Zeebrugge expedition. He came back with his life but has since succumbed after a long and painful illness to the effects of "Gassing" then received."

The reason for the poorly attended funeral is given as the fact that "His parents, trusting the promise of someone in authority that full military or naval honours should be accorded to the dead sailor, made no arrangements whatever for a private funeral…..The parents and relatives justly feel enraged. Their boy, a dearly loved son, was accorded hardly a decent burial and their resentment and sorrow run deep. So far as we have been able to ascertain, this much regretted error appears to have been due to the miscarriage of an order. Captain Cowley, C.R.O. had made arrangements whereby a gun carriage and a party of soldiers would have been present, but although the funeral was delayed for a considerable time they did not arrive …..We understand that a letter of apology for this unfortunate oversight has been sent to the bereaved family. Seaman Helman took a gallant part in the famous Zeebrugge raid, and his sad death has brought to an untimely close a most promising naval career."

An imposing memorial to John William Helman, designed and made by Mr E. Henry, Monumental Sculptor and Mason, of the Bordage, stands in St Andrew's Parochial Cemetery, in Guernsey. It was erected by the London Channel Islands Society Comforts Fund, and says "R.I.P. In grateful memory of Able Seaman John William Helman of H.M.S. Daffodil. Oldest son of Colour Sergeant E.W. Helman, who died on the 28th of February 1920 at the age of 24 years and 6 months as the result of exposure during the famous naval raid on Zeebrugge, April 22 - 23 1918. This memorial is presented by the local committee administering the Comforts Fund of the London Channel Islanders Society."

A photograph of its unveiling on the front page of the Weekly Press of 6th August 1921 is entitled "Our Zeebrugge Hero", and an article inside the newspaper carries a report of the ceremony, which contrasts sharply with his funeral. It was attended by "a number of leading islanders and servicemen, all anxious to be present and to honour the remains of a Guernsey hero".

Guernsey Roll of Honour entry

The Bailiff, Sir Edward Chepmell Ozanne, K.B.E unveiled the memorial, described as "……a marble cross on a pedestal. Before the cross is an anchor, entwined by cordage to the central pillar." Also present at the ceremony were the Bailiff's wife, various local men of importance such as Messrs Gervaise F. Peek, S.A. Candon, R.J. Collins, H. Britten and A.I. Le Patourel, the Douzaine, the Poor Law Board and Churchwardens of St Andrews and representatives of the London Channel Islands Society.

The military was represented by Lieut. F. Boxall, RN (coastguards), Captain E. Cowley, MBE, (Army, the same Captain Cowley who made the unfortunate "blunder" at Helman's funeral), and Sergt. J. Ryan, Lance Corporal L. Phelan and Private T. O'Brien (Garrison Military Police), and Bugler M.J. Cryan.

The Vauxbelets choir, under the direction of Frère Cels, was stationed on the lower slopes of the cemetery, and Reverend Father Thomas Hickey, D.D., PhD, Roman Catholic Dean of Guernsey, conducted the ceremony. The Bailiff was invited to unveil the memorial, in a speech which described the late A.B. Helman as "…one of the volunteers for service when that daring feat (the Zeebrugge raid) was performed, and his bravery on that occasion was so marked that he was one of several recommended for the highest honour that can be conferred on a soldier or sailor - the Victoria Cross."

The Bailiff then made "a brief but very impressive address, which visibly affected the parents", before recalling his meetings with Helman. After describing the raid as "a hell upon earth", he went on to say that "It was important to remember that the men were volunteers, and that each man had been warned that he would go to almost certain death." He then unveiled the memorial, which had been covered with a Union Jack, saying "Their name liveth for evermore". After some items by the choir, prayers and a hymn, the ceremony concluded with Bugler Cryan sounding the Last Post.

However the "blunders" seem to have continued. Despite the fact that AB John William Helman is commemorated on the St Andrew's Parish memorial and on the Bailiwick Memorial in St Peter Port, a search of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records reveal no entry for him. He qualifies for official recognition, because he died as a result of illness caused by his war service, within the prescribed time limit.

Thus "our Zeebrugge hero" did not receive any awards in his lifetime, nor did he have the funeral with military honours, or an official war grave to which he was entitled.

The Admiralty has now investigated his case and given him the recognition that he deserved (Oct 2011). A new CWGC headstone was erected in April 2016 and placed alongside his original memorial