James Joseph Magennis
Leading Seaman, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 821 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Leading Seaman (register: Acting Leading Seaman) all Leading Seamans →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS XE3) all HMS XE3 VCs →
- Date of action
- 31 July 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 13th November 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 22nd October 1919 at Belfast, Ireland
- Died
- 12th February, 1986 at Halifax, Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- Mab Wood Crematorium, Shipley, Yorkshire
Digest of citation
In the Johore Straits on 31st July 1945, Leading Seaman Magennis was a diver in the XE3, a midget submarine. H experienced great difficulty as he attached limpet mines to the. Atago class Japanese cruiser. The XE3 was jammed beneath the Cruiser and the driver's hatch was not able to open fully. Magennis squeezed himself through the narrow opening, and had to remove barnacles from the bottom of the Cruiser before he could attach the mines. It was tiring work as he had to attach them in pairs bypassing a line under the keel. He also was handicapped by a small leak of oxygen, causing bubbles to reach the surface. He completed the job, placing all mines in position, before returning to the submarine. On withdrawing, Lieutenant FRASER discovered that one of the limpet carriers could not be jettisoned. Leading Seaman Magennis, despite being exhausted, immediately volunteered to go out again and free it. It took seven minutes of nerve-racking work, but he managed to release it. He displayed great courage and showed no regard for his own safety
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MAGENNIS, James Joseph. (Reg No. 821).
Leading Seaman. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 13th November 1945.
Born on 22nd October 1919 at Belfast, Ireland.
Died on 12th February, 1986 at Halifax, Yorkshire.
Memorial at Mab Wood Crematorium, Shipley, Yorkshire.
Digest of Citation reads: In the Johore Straits on 31st July 1945, Leading Seaman Magennis was a diver in the XE3, a midget submarine. H experienced great difficulty as he attached limpet mines to the. Atago class Japanese cruiser. The XE3 was jammed beneath the Cruiser and the driver's hatch was not able to open fully. Magennis squeezed himself through the narrow opening, and had to remove barnacles from the bottom of the Cruiser before he could attach the mines. It was tiring work as he had to attach them in pairs bypassing a line under the keel. He also was handicapped by a small leak of oxygen, causing bubbles to reach the surface. He completed the job, placing all mines in position, before returning to the submarine. On withdrawing, Lieutenant FRASER discovered that one of the limpet carriers could not be jettisoned. Leading Seaman Magennis, despite being exhausted, immediately volunteered to go out again and free it. It took seven minutes of nerve-racking work, but he managed to release it. He displayed great courage and showed no regard for his own safety.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Mab Wood Crematorium, Shipley, Yorkshire
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