Eugene Esmonde

Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy

Register No.: 386 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Lieutenant Commander all Lieutenant-Commanders →
Unit: Royal Navy (register: 825 Naval Air Squadron) all 825 Naval Air Squadron VCs →
Date of action: 12 February 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
Conflict / campaign: Second World War
London Gazette: 3rd March 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
Born: 1st March 1909 at Thurgoland, Yorkshire
Died: 12th February 1942 in the Staits of Dover
Memorial / grave: Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham and RN Memorial Portsmouth

Digest of citation

On 12 February 1942 in the Straits of Dover, Lieutenant Commander Esmonde led his squadron of six Swordfish inthe attack of two German battle cruisers and the cruiser Prinz Eugen, which were entering the Straits strongly escorted by surface craft. Detached from their escorting fighters (just 10 in number) by enemy fighters, all of the aircraft of the squadron were damaged, but even after Lieutenant Commander Esmonde's sustained a direct hit he still continued the run-in towards his target until it burst into flames and crashed into the sea. The squadron went on to launch a gallant attack, but none of the six aircraft returned

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

ESMONDE Eugene (Reg. No. 386)

Lieutenant Commander Royal Navy London Gazetted on 3rd March 1942.

Born on: 1st March 1909 at Thurgoland, Yorkshire Died on: 12th February 1942 in the Staits of Dover.

Memorial at: Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham and RN Memorial Portsmouth.

Digest of Citation reads: On 12 February 1942 in the Straits of Dover, Lieutenant Commander Esmonde led his squadron of six Swordfish inthe attack of two German battle cruisers and the cruiser Prinz Eugen, which were entering the Straits strongly escorted by surface craft. Detached from their escorting fighters (just 10 in number) by enemy fighters, all of the aircraft of the squadron were damaged, but even after Lieutenant Commander Esmonde's sustained a direct hit he still continued the run-in towards his target until it burst into flames and crashed into the sea. The squadron went on to launch a gallant attack, but none of the six aircraft returned.

Additional information: He was the Great-Nephew of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Esmonde of the 18th Regiment later to be the Royal Irish Regiment, who won his Victoria Cross at Sebastopol, The Crimea on the 18th of June 1855. (see Reg. No. 387) Lt. Cdr. Eugene Esmonde was one of a set of twins Born on to Dr.John Esmonde MP and his wife, Eily Josephine (née O'Sullivan). They had, in all, eight sons and three daughters. Eugene attended the Jesuit school, Wimbledon College in south London. Further education followed at St. Peter's College at Liverpool and Burn Hall in Durham. It was intended that he become a member of His Eminence, Herbert Vaughan's Foreign Missionary Society but he decided instead to enlist in the RAF and gained his commission on the 28th December 1928. After serving his agreed engagement he left and joine Imperial Airways in August 1934..He was one of the pioneers of commercial flying and he carried mail and passengers to the far flung reaches of the British Empire. As the air traffic increased he began to fly regular runs to the near, middle and far east. He was promoted to Captain in 1937 after he was lucky enough to survive a crash in the Irriwaddy. It was on the 3rd of May 1939, with war being threatened, he joined the Fleet Air Arm with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was involved in many actions during his short naval career. He was a survivor of HMS Courageous, sunk on the 17th September 1939. In 1941 he was in the attack on the German Battleship, Bismarck, leading a squadron of nine Swordfish with torpedo. The weather was foul and for a time they missed HMS Victorious owing to failure of guidance equipment. In order that they could land the mother ship lit up everything she could to allow them a safe return, risking attacks from enemy shipping and submarines. For his part in the attack on the German Battleship he was awarded the Distinguished Order.

Additional information

He was the Great-Nephew of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Esmonde of the 18th Regiment later to be the Royal Irish Regiment, who won his Victoria Cross at Sebastopol, The Crimea on the 18th of June 1855. (see Reg. No. 387) Lt. Cdr. Eugene Esmonde was one of a set of twins Born on to Dr.John Esmonde MP and his wife, Eily Josephine (née O'Sullivan). They had, in all, eight sons and three daughters. Eugene attended the Jesuit school, Wimbledon College in south London. Further education followed at St. Peter's College at Liverpool and Burn Hall in Durham. It was intended that he become a member of His Eminence, Herbert Vaughan's Foreign Missionary Society but he decided instead to enlist in the RAF and gained his commission on the 28th December 1928. After serving his agreed engagement he left and joine Imperial Airways in August 1934..He was one of the pioneers of commercial flying and he carried mail and passengers to the far flung reaches of the British Empire. As the air traffic increased he began to fly regular runs to the near, middle and far east. He was promoted to Captain in 1937 after he was lucky enough to survive a crash in the Irriwaddy. It was on the 3rd of May 1939, with war being threatened, he joined the Fleet Air Arm with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was involved in many actions during his short naval career. He was a survivor of HMS Courageous, sunk on the 17th September 1939. In 1941 he was in the attack on the German Battleship, Bismarck, leading a squadron of nine Swordfish with torpedo. The weather was foul and for a time they missed HMS Victorious owing to failure of guidance equipment. In order that they could land the mother ship lit up everything she could to allow them a safe return, risking attacks from enemy shipping and submarines. For his part in the attack on the German Battleship he was awarded the Distinguished Order.

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham and RN Memorial Portsmouth

📍 Find “Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham” on Google Maps Victoria Cross Trust grave database

Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.

Research this recipient further

Search The London Gazette Wikipedia CWGC war dead search Find a Grave Victoria Cross Trust

Would you like to honour Eugene Esmonde by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.