Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen

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Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen (VC, SGM (in silver)) an English VC recipient was (born Southsea, Hampshire on 8 October 1891, missing (presumed dead) Atlantic Ocean on 5 November 1940) was by birth an English 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.

[edit] Details

He was 49 years old, and an Acting Captain in the Royal Navy during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 5 November 1940 in the Atlantic, Captain Fegen, commanding HMS Jervis Bay, was escorting 37 merchantmen, when they were attacked by the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer. Captain Fegen immediately engaged the enemy head-on, thus giving the ships of the convoy time to scatter. Out-gunned and on fire Jervis Bay maintained the unequal fight for three hours, although the captain's right arm was shattered and his bridge was shot from under him. He went down with his ship but it was due to him that 31 ships of the convoy escaped, for example the San Demetrio.

[edit] References

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

[edit] External links

• Commander E.S Fogarty Fegen in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
• Captain Fegan and HMS "Jervis Bay"
• World War II Unit Histories & Officers - RN Officers