Lieutenant-Commander Eugene Esmonde, V.C., D.S.O., R.N., Fleet Air Arm

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by dbf, May 14, 2009.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Lieutenant-Commander Eugene Esmonde, D.S.O., R.N., was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1942.
    On the morning of February 12th, 1942, Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde, in command of a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm, was told that the German battle-cruisers “Sharnhorst” and “Gneisenau” and the cruiser “Prinz Eugen”, strongly escorted by some 30 surface craft, were entering the Straits of Dover, and that his squadron must attack before they reached the sand-banks north-east of Calais. Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde well knew that his enterprise was desperate. Soon after noon he and his squadron of six Swordfist set course for the enemy, and after ten minutes’ flight were attacked by a strong force of enemy fighters. Touch was lost with his fighter escort, and in the action which followed all his aircraft were damaged. He flew on, cool and resolute, serenely challenging hopeless odds, to encounter the deadly fire of the battle-cruisers and their escort, which scattered the port wing of his aircraft. Undismayed, he led his squadron on, straight through this inferno of fire, in steady flight towards their target. Almost at once he was shot down; but his squadron went on to launch a gallant attack, in which at least one torpedo is believed to have struck a German battle-cruiser, and from which not one of the six aircraft returned.

    Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde’s home was in Drominagh, Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary.

    The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

    Eugene Esmonde - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Lt. Cdr. (A) Eugene Esmonde VC DSO Mid RN - World Naval Ships Forums

    CWGC :: Casualty Details
    Lieut-Commander (A) EUGENE KINGSMILL ESMONDE V C, D S O, H.M.S. Daedalus (825 Sqdn.), Royal Navy who died age 32 on 12 February 1942
    Son of John Joseph and Eily Esmonde, of Drominagh, Co. Tipperary, Irish Republic.
    Remembered with honour GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Naval Reservation. Grave 187. R.C.
    :poppy:

    See this thread for reference:
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/19413-volunteers-eire-who-have-won-distinctions.html
    :irishflag[1]:
     
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  2. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    And in the event no hits were achieved but this does not detract from courage and determination shown.

    Cerberus caught Fuller on the wrong foot and men like Esmonde were left to salvage from it what could be in an attempt to at least inflict damage on the Brest Squadron as they forged their way through the Channel.

    There was supposed to be a fighter escort but they missed each other and Edsmonde decided to press on with the attack , the chance of success and survival being equally low.
     
  3. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Definitely a brave soul especially knowing that the chances of survival were low.
     
  4. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    I have a very detailed account of the events leading to the air operations surrounding this action, but I'll post the part relating to the Swordfish action.

    The Swordfish Attack

    At 1220 hours the six Swordfish led by Lieut. Commander Esmonde took off and circled above Manston, At 1228 hours one of the Biggin Hill Wing Squadrons - No, 72 Spitfires -arrived and without further delay1 the Swordfish set cut to area. Prom survivors' evidence it seems clear that Esmonde
    decided to start with some of his escort hoping that the other Squadrons would join up en route. He did not necessarily expect to see all three Squadrons as they might well be stepped up in height above the low cloud and therefore out of his sight.

    The 10 Spitfires, of No, 72 Squadron maintained close touch -with the Swordfish until sighting the enemy ships at about 1240 hours. Simultaneous with the sighting, the party was attacked by numerous FW 190’s and Me.109's. The ensuing "dog fights" occupied all the attention of the escort (1) and, though the leading three Swordfish were seen to cross the enemy destroyer screen, nothing further was seen of them. The few survivors. reported that after sighting the enemy squadron they were attacked by enemy fighters all the way in until within 4000 yards of the big ships; thereafter intense flak was encountered. All the aircraft were hit repeatedly during this approach and many of the personnel killed or wounded. Lieut. Commander Esmonde was seen to be shot down by fighters but it could not be seen if he had dropped his torpedo.(2) In the smoke and mist only two big ships were seen.' After the loss of their leader the two other Swordfish in his section dropped their torpedoes at the rearmost big ship from 3000 and 2000 yards range respectively at about 1245 hours and then both crashed into the sea from damage previously received. Five of the six personnel were afterwards picked up by our motor torpedo boats. Nothing was seen of the rear section of three Swordfish after crossing the destroyer screen neither was it known whether they dropped their torpedoes. There were no survivors from them.

    The other two escorting squadrons for the Swordfish were not airborne until 1218 and 1220 hours respectively and, on the way to the rendezvous, realised they were going to be late .so turned off to cross the coast at Deal hoping to see the Swordfish en route. Seeing no signs of them they turned again for Manston but as they were not there the two squadrons set off for the target which they were told by R/T would be found off Calais. The big ships were sighted about 10 miles north of Calais at 1240 hours. Both Squadrons immediately became involved in combats with enemy fighters and saw no signs of the Swordfish. After their action they returned to base.(3)

    Nos. 64 and 411 Squadrons were delayed in take off from 'their station at Fairlop by difficult weather conditions and did not reach Manston until 1230 hours. Not finding the Swordfish they proceeded over to the French coast but failed to locate the German force and were not engaged.

    Soon after this No. 607 Squadron of Hurribombers(4) ' escorted by Cannon Hurricanes of No. 32 Squadron left Mans ten at 1240 hours with orders to attack the E-boats and destroyer screen around the big ships. They also did not locate the enemy main force but at 1300 hours attacked four small flak vessels close off Cap Griz Nez. One Hurribomber was shot down by shore batteries and three of the flak vessels were claimed as damaged.


    Notes

    (1) 3 FW 190' s were shot down and 3 claimed as damaged.
    No losses were incurred by No. 72 Squadron.

    (2) Lieut. Commander Esmonde was posthumously awarded the V.C.

    (3) 2 FW 190's were shot down by No. 401 Squadron and
    2 claimed as damaged. 4 were claimed damaged by No. 124 Squadron. Neither Squadron incurred any. losses.

    (4) These were Hurricane fighters fitted with bomb racks
    and had been developed earlier as part of Fighter Command's operations against enemy shipping.


    AIR41/47

    The RAF Narrative Vol. III The Atlantic and Home Waters. July 1941 to February 1942.
     
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  5. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    I really should not trust to memory Peter - you are correct on the Spitfire escort .
    J D Potter in his "Fiasco" confirms this - there were to be others involved but they didn't show Esmonde went on with S.Ldr's Kingcombe's 10 Spitfires.
    (Potter states that there were to be 4 other Squadrons involved).
     
  6. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    From The Irish Times, Thursday, May 31, 1945:

    Fleet Air Arm's First V.C.

    Among those who were awarded the Victoria Cross in the war against Germany was the late Lieutenant-Commamder Eugene Esmonde, D.S.O., R.N., member of an Irish family which has produced many distinguished soldiers and sailors, including Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Esmonde, V.C., a brother of the 10th Baronet.

    Eugene Esmonde, fighter-pilot of the Fleet Air Arm, was transferred to the Swordfish section - torpedo bombers - and was quickly promoted to lead a squadron. Among his exploits was a gallant attack on the German battleship, Bismarck. Esmonde's plane was hit twice. The Swordfish did not sink the warship, but they got a hit which, in the words of the Commander-in-Chief, "was largely responsible for the Bismarck being finally brought to action and sunk."

    Shortly after this, Esmonde's squadron was transferred to the Ark Royal, and was with her when she was sunk by a torpedo in the Mediterranean in November, 1941.

    On February 11th, 1942, Esmonde called together his squadron and told them: "The Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prince Eugen have had the cheek to put their noses out into the Channel, and we're going to deal with them. Fly at 50 feet, close line astern, individual attacks, and find your own way home."

    The three ships had the biggest fighter umbrella ever seen, up to then, over a naval force. They were accompanied by 30 surface craft. Through an inferno of fire, Esmonde flew on, challenging hopeless odds. The port wing of his Swordfish was shattered, but he went on to his target, to be shot down and meet his death in the sea. The entire squadron was wiped out.

    Esmonde was awarded a posthumous V.C., the first won by the Fleet Air Arm. It is written of him that "he was a brave man and an inspiring leader ... That he was facing tremendous risks he knew, but he was prepared to fact them as he had faced other risks many times before."

    Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde came of a family that was always prominent in the old days in the Nationalist movement. His half-brother, Sir John Esmonde, S.C., the present holder of the title, was a Member of Parliament, at the age of 22, for North Tipperary, and later he was a member of Dail Eireann. He served in the European War of 1914-1918 as a captain in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Another member of the family was killed in action at the battle of Jutland in 1916.
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    [​IMG]
    Taken shortly after the Bismarck was sunk
    Esmonde is second from left

    [​IMG]

    :poppy:
     
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  8. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    It would seem there is another part to this story, about the recovery of his body?
    Name: ESMONDE, EUGENE KINGSMILL
    Initials: E K
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Lieut-Commander (A)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
    Unit Text: H.M.S. Daedalus (825 Sqdn.)
    Age: 32
    Date of Death: 12/02/1942
    Awards: V C, D S O
    Additional information: Son of John Joseph and Eily Esmonde, of Drominagh, Co. Tipperary, Irish Republic.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Naval Reservation. Grave 187. R.C.
    Cemetery: GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY

    Gillingham doesn't seem to be the nearest port, so what happened after they were shot down?

    From Peters account, After the loss of their leader the two other Swordfish in his section dropped their torpedoes at the rearmost big ship from 3000 and 2000 yards range respectively at about 1245 hours and then both crashed into the sea from damage previously received. Five of the six personnel were afterwards picked up by our motor torpedo boats.
    - does this infer they also picked up his body?
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    A few tit bits from VC's of the Second World War:

    Esmonde first spotted the ships about 10 miles North of Calais after they had passed the Straits of Dover, they had been sailing for around four hours and it was now noon.

    The other five crews from his depleted No.825 Squadron had heard his orders earlier and were intent on carrying them out.

    'The Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen have had the cheek to put their noses into the Channel. We're going to deal with them. Fly at 50 feet; close line astern. Individual Attacks. Find your own way home.'


    The six aircraft now drew the attention of over a hundred guns from the armada of German ships, Esmonde's plane was No. 5984/825 and such was the intensity of fire that a shell actually ricochetted off the water and scratched the numbers on the belly of the plane.

    It then goes on to say that Esmonde's plane was attacked by a Focke-Wulf 190 that completely destroyed the upper main plane which caused the aircraft to spin into the sea with Esmonde never to be seen again.

    However Esmonde was buried in the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent so I wonder if his body was washed up on the shore sometime later..
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I think I may have found a new theme to add to my VC Thead :)

    The original VC recommendation:
    [​IMG]
     
  11. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I thought a nice clean headstone would be appropriate. Nice touch that someone had left a model swordfish at the base. Not sure about jet though.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2020
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  12. JackW

    JackW Member

    Update:

    A memorial dedicated to 'Operation Fuller' unvieled at Ramsgate in February 2010.....
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    God dam, How did I miss that ! I was there in May for the 70th Anniversary for Op Dynamo. Thanks for posting the pictures.

    Just noticed he has a '(A)' on his headstone. Never seen that before, anyone know what its for? Air by any chance? It can't be for acting can it?

    Cheers
    Andy
     
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  14. JackW

    JackW Member

    God dam, How did I miss that ! I was there in May for the 70th Anniversary for Op Dynamo. Thanks for posting the pictures.

    Just noticed he has a '(A)' on his headstone. Never seen that before, anyone know what its for? Air by any chance? It can't be for acting can it?

    Cheers
    Andy


    The (A) on the headstone indicates that he was Fleet Air Arm, as opposed to (C) which would indicate Communications branch, General Service.

    Cheers
    Jack.
     
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  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks for that Jack.
     
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  16. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    ramacal
    I thought a nice clean headstone would be appropriate.
    Headstone are difficult to photograph well but your skill as a man with an eye for a good photo deserves much credit - that is a fine fine photo. :poppy::)

    My father was on one of the MTB's and he mentioned to me seeing the Swordfish go in , his own boat may not have been involved in picking up survivors as he never mentioned this - then again he only told me of his part once.
    Questions were rarely answered , "we'll leave that for another time".... his own view was that the whole thing was a "cock up" from our point of view taken by surprise and wrong footed it was a case of sending in what could be got into the air or on the water at short notice.
    "Half the German navy was in front of us and the whole German air force was in the air what chance did we have" ? ( Was how he summed it up).
     
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  17. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    James.

    Thanks for saying that about the photo.

    I thought looking at it from a different angle would be interesting and I was not disappointed.

    Regards - Rob
     
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  18. saintconor

    saintconor Senior Member

    Hi Rob, with the abilty to take a photograph like that I wonder what you make of the sloppy efforts I send you, lol.
     
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  19. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Don't worry Conor. Most of my efforts are sloppy ones too.:lol: All are welcome.

    I think the colour of that headstone made for a better photo too. The standard CWGC are quite difficult to photograph, especially when the sun is on them.
     
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  20. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Answer to the question related to the recovery of the body of Lt Cdr Eugene Esmonde (final paragraph of report in HMS Opossum Newsletter from spring 1998)

    The quote within the text from the Station Commander at Manston says it all.

    Always remember, never forget,

    Jim.

    Newsletter Spring 98.jpg
     
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