Lt Cdr Eugene Esmonde RN
825 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm
Born 1 March 1909
Died 12 Feb 1942
On 12th February 1943 Lt Cdr Eugene Esmonde was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross after leading the attack on German battle cruisers Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and the cruiser Prince Eugen as they journeyed from Brest to the safety of North German ports. This was an ill-fated attack which culminated in the loss of all six swordfish and saw only five of eighteen men rescued and returned to safety.
This happened just one day after he had been awarded the DSO by King George VI for the part he played in the attack on the Bismarck.