irish recipients of the victoria cross during

the second world war

While Admiral Otto Ciliax in the Scharnhorst described " The mothball attack of a handful of ancient planes, piloted by men whose bravert surpasses any other action by either side that day. " As he watched the smoking wrecks of the Swordfish alling into the sea, Captain Hoffman of the Scharnhorst exclaimed " Poor fellows, they were so very slow, it is nothing but suicide for them to fly against these big ships. " Wilhelm Wolf aboard the Scharnhorst wrote " What an heroic stage for them to meet their end! Behind them their homeland, which they had just left with their hearts steeled to their purpose, still in view. " The award of the VC was gazetted on the 3rd March 1942, the citation read:

ADMIRALTY. Whitehall, 3rd March, 1942 The King has been graciously pleased to approve the grant of the VICTORIA CROSS, for valour and resolution in action against the enemy to: The late Lieutenant-Commander ( A ) Eugene Esmonde D.S.O. Royal Navy. On the morning of Thursday, 12th February, 1942, Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde, in command of a Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm, was told that the German Battle-Cruiser SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU and the Cruiser PRINZ EUGEN, strongly escorted by some thirty surface craft, were entering the Straights of Dover, and that his squadron must attack before they reached the sand-banks North East of Calais. Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde knew well that his enterprise was desperate. Soon after noon he and his squadron of six Swordfish 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 shattered 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 the German Battle-Cruisers, and from which not one of the six aircraft reurned. His high courage and splendid resolution will live in the traditions of the Royal Navy, and remain for many generations a fine stirring memory.

he was remembered in Winston Churchill's famous broadcast speech on 13th May 1945 ' Five years of War ' as having defended Ireland's honour. Esmonde was buried in the Woodlands Cemetary, Gillingham, Kent.

Donald Edward Garland VC

Donald Edward Garland VC ( 28th June 1918 - 12th May 1940 ) was born in Ballincor, County Wicklow. He was 21 years old, and a Flying Officer in the No12 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. On the 12th May 1940, over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading German Army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine-guns. The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battle bombers were despatched with Flying Officer Garland leading the attack.

The Fairey Battle bomber as flown by Donald Garland

They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, due to the expert leadership of Flying Officer Garland and the coolness and resource of his navigator ( Thomas Gray ) Only one bomber managed to get back to base, the leading aircraft and three others did not return. The bridge that Garland attacked was the bridge at Veltwezelt. He died either crashing in the village of Lanaken, or in the hospital in Maastricht, Netherlands. There is a monument on the bridge to the operation. Donald Garland is buried at Heverlee War Cemetary near Leuven in Belgium. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum ( Hendon, England )

James Joseph Bernard Jackman VC

James Joseph Bernard Jackson VC ( Born in Dublin 19th March 1916 - 26th November 1941 ) He was 25 years old, and a temporary Captain in The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. On the 25th November 1941 - At El Duda, south-east of Tobruk, Captain Jackman was in command of a machine-gun company of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in the tank attack on the El Duda ridge. As the tanks reached the crest of the rise they were met by extremely intense fire from a large number of guns of all descriptions: the fire was so heavy that it was doubtful for a moment whether the brigade could maintain its hold on the position. The tanks having slowed to hull-down positions, settled to beat down the enemy fire, during which time Jackman rapidly rushed up the ridge leading his machine-gun trucks and saw at once that anti-tank guns were firing at the flank of the tanks, as well as the rows of batteries which the tanks were engaging on their front. He immediately started to get his guns into action as calmly as though he were on manoeuvres, and so secured the right flank.