irish recipients of the victoria cross during

the second world war

Having touched on the subject of Victoria Cross recipients in the last chapter ' WW2 Irish Volunteers ' here is a detailed account of those Irish men that were awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during World War Two

Harold Ervine -Andrews VC

Harold Marcus Ervine - Andrews VC ( 29th July, 1911 - 30th March, 1995 ) was born in Keadue, County Cavan, Ireland and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was educated by the Jesuits at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire and is one of recipients of the VC who were educated at Stonyhurst. Harold was 28 years old, and a captain in The East Lancashire Regiment, British Army when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. During the night of 31st May - 1st June 1940 near Dunkirk, France, the company commanded by Captain Ervine - Andrews was heavily out - numbered and under intense German fire. When the enemy attacked at dawn and crossed the Canal de Bergues, Captain Ervine - Andrews, with volunteers from his company, rushed a barn and from the roof shot 11 of the enemy with a rifle and many more with a Bren gun. When the barn was shattered and alight, he sent the wounded to the rear and led the remaining eight men back, wading for over a mile in water up to their chins. The group of eight men included privates Jago and Singleton, they travelled through rough enemy lines to the blood soaked beaches and finally escaped back to England on June 4th. A group of soldiers that served under Captain Andrews, including Frank Curry, Alfred Jago, Singleton and Costello had decided to give a surprise visit in 1995 to Captain Andrews at his home in Cornwall, but Captain Andrews died before the trip could take place. He attempted to return home to Co. Cavan after the war, but was driven out by local members of the IRA and later settled in Cornwall. He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The last Irish VC to die, he died on the 30th March 1995, aged 83. There is a memorial at Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, Lancashire. His burial took place at Glynn Valley Crematorium, Bodmin, England.

Lieutenant Commander Eugene Kingsmill Esmonde VC, DSO, F/Lt, RAF, Lt-Cdr ( A ) RN ( 1st March 1909 - 12th February 1942 ) was a distinguished pilot who was a posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross. Lt-Cdr Esmonde earned this prestigious award while in command of a Naval torpedo bomber squadron serving in the British Fleet Air Arm during World War 2. Eugene was born on the 1st March 1909 in Thurgoland, near Barnesley, Yorkshire where his father Dr John Joseph Esmonde ( 1862 - 1915 ) was in temporary General Practice. Though by birth English, his parents were from Ireland and he returned to his family's ancestral home of the Esmonde Baronets in Drominagh, Co Tipperary as a boy and was educated by the Jesuits, first at Wimbledon College in London and then at Clongowes Wood College in Co. Kildare, Ireland .

( Interestingly i also attended Wimbledon College, along with my three brothers, and i can remember the large painting of the action for which Eugene was awarded his VC. It hung above the door to the 6th form common room, and i often sat there looking at it. I know the school was very proud of Eugene and all the other boys who gave their lives during both World Wars. The school had its own chapel, and outside was a lovely war memorial to all the ' old ' boys . Their names which ran into several hundreds were always read out at mass prior to Rememerance Sunday. Wimbledon College was a school steeped in tradition, i did hear that back in the early days it was a form of military school. Nevertheless it certainly set me up for my life ahead ).

Above, Wimbledon College attended by Eugene Esmonde VC

He had three elder half-brothers from his father's first marriage, Sir John Esmonde, 14th Baronet, who served in the Great War, 2nd Lt. Geoffrey Esmonde ( 1897 - 1916 ) who was killed in action in the First World War serving with the 26th Tyneside Irish Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, and Sir Anthony Esmond, 15th Baronet. Eugene was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer on probation on the 28th December 1928. During the early 1930's Eugene Esmonde served first in the RAF, and then transferred to the Fleet Air Arm where he served in the Mediterranean when responsibility for naval aviation was returned to the Royal Navy. Upon leaving the amed forces he flew for Imperial Airways. At the start of the war he returned to the Fleet Air Arm with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His first sea posting was to HMS Courageous, which was sunk in September 1939. He returned to sea duty onboard HMS Victorious after a series of postings to shore-based stations. On the night of 24th May 1941, Esmonde led No. 825 Naval Air Squadron's nine Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers in an attack against the German battleship Bismark. This attack was part of the pursuit that took place after the battle of the Demark Strait, in which HMS Hood was sunk by shells fired from the Bismark.