James Joseph Magennis

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James Joseph Magennis (27 October 1919 in Belfast, Northern Ireland – 12 February 1986 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom) was a Belfast-born 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. He was the only native of Northern Ireland to receive the Victoria Cross for World War II service.[1]

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[edit] Details

He was awarded the Victoria Cross for taking part in Operation Struggle when he was Temporary Acting Leading Seaman in the Royal Navy during World War II.[2] He served as a clearance diver ("frogman") on HM Midget Submarine XE3 for her attack on a Japanese cruiser of the Atago class on 31 July 1945 in the Straits of Johor, Singapore.[3]

Leading Seaman Magennis attached limpet mines to the Japanese cruiser Takao under particularly difficult circumstances. He had to squeeze through a narrow space in the partly-open diving hatch of the wet and dry compartment and then scrape barnacles off the bottom of the cruiser before attaching the limpets. During this time his breathing apparatus was leaking and he returned to the submarine after completion of his task very exhausted. On withdrawing, his C/O, Lieutenant Ian Edward Fraser RNR, found that one of the limpet carriers which was being jettisoned would not release itself, and Magennis immediately volunteered to free it. This he did, after five minutes of nerve-racking work with a heavy spanner. On completion Magennis returned to XE3 for the second time, allowing the four man midget submarine to make its escape out to open sea to meet the waiting mother submarine HMS/M Stygian.

[edit] Citation

"The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Victoria Cross for valour to Temporary Acting Leading Seaman James Joseph Magennis, D/KX144907. Leading Seaman Magennis served as diver in His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE3 for her attack on 31 July 1945 on a Japanese cruiser of the Atago class. Because XE3 was tightly jammed under the target the diver's hatch could not be fully opened, and Magennis had to squeeze himself through the narrow space available. He experienced great difficulty in placing the limpets on the bottom of the cruiser owing both to the foul state of the cruisers bottom and to the prominent slope upon which the limpets would not hold. Before a limpet could be placed therefore Magennis had thoroughly to scrape the area clean of barnacles, and in order to secure the limpets he had to tie them in pairs by a line passing under the cruisers keel. This was very tiring work for a diver, and he was moreover handicapped by a steady leakage of oxygen which was ascending in bubbles to the surface. A lesser man would have been content to place a few limpets and then to return to the craft. Magennis, however, persisted until he had placed his full outfit before returning to the craft in an exhausted condition. Shortly after withdrawing Lt. Fraser endeavoured to jettison his limpet carriers, but one of these would not release itself and fall clear of the craft. Despite his exhaustion, his oxygen leak and the fact that there was every probability of his being sighted, Magennis at once volunteered to leave the craft and free the carrier rather than allow a less experienced diver to undertake the job. After seven minutes of nerve racking work he succeeded in releasing the mine carrier. Magennis displayed very great courage and devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own safety."

[edit] The medal

The owner of James Magennis's VC is Lord Ashcroft, deputy chairman of the Conservative party, who owns 142 VCs. The medal is kept in a private safe along with other VCs at "Spinks" of London and is not publicly displayed.

[edit] Memorials

[edit] Memorial statue

It is widely believed that official recognition of Magennis as the only VC recipient of World War II from Northern Ireland was obstructed by political divisions in the country, rejected by people from both sides of the sectarian divide as a Roman Catholic from West Belfast who had fought with the "Brits".

After a long campaign by his biographer George Fleming, a bronze and stone memorial statue to James Magennis was officially unveiled in Belfast on 8 October 1999. The ceremony in the grounds of City Hall in the presence of Magennis's son, Paul, was performed by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Bob Stoker. Magennis's former commanding officer, Ian Fraser, was reported as saying: "Jim gave me bother from time to time. He liked his tot of rum, but he was a lovely man and a fine diver. I have never met a braver man. It was a privilege to know him and it's wonderful to see Belfast honour him at last."

The guests at the ceremony included members of James Magennis' family, his brother Bill, and three sons, Paul, James and Michael; his grand daughter Mary Magennis; Gerry Fitt; L/S. Magennis' Commanding Officer from XE-3, Commander Ian Fraser, VC, DSC, and William Gould, VC, the only other surviving Royal Navy Victoria Cross holders from World War II. Rear Admiral A.J. (Tony) Whetstone CB President Submarine Old Comrades Association, Carl Jackson Chairman HMS Ganges Association, George Malcolsom Submarine Museum, Commander P. Campbell MVO President of the No 12 area Royal Naval Association. The Maritime Institute of Ireland was represented by Deputy President, Denis Ranaghan and Honorary Secretary, Patrick Sweeney.

[edit] Magennis mural

A wall mural commemorating James Magennis on the 60th anniversary of World War II's VE and VJ days was unveiled on 16 September 2005 by Peter Robinson Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member of Parliament in Tullycarnet Estate, East Belfast.[4]

[edit] Magennis plaques

In 1986 at a memorial service in Bradford Cathedral, The Submarine Old Comrade Association (West Riding Branch) erected a memorial plaque on an inner wall within the Cathedral. The plaque made of Welsh slate was supplied by ex-submariner Tommy Topham MBE. Rear Admiral Place VC, CB, CVO, DSC unveiled the plaque. In attendance was Petty Officer Tommy (Nat) Gould, another submariner Victoria Cross recipient from World War II.

In 1998 a memorial plaque was installed by Castlereagh Borough Council on the wall of James Magennis's former home at 32 Carncaver Road, Castlereagh, East Belfast.

A memorial blue plaque sponsored by Belfast City Council was installed on the outer wall of the Royal Naval Association building at Great Victoria Street, Belfast by the Ulster History Circle.[5] Belfast City Councillor Diane Dodds MLA unveiled the plaque on 17 January 2007.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ VC winner honoured at city hall BBC News 19 August 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2006.
  2. ^ http://web.ukonline.co.uk/chalcraft/sm/XE3.html
  3. ^ http://www.archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/10/09ipage_20.htm
  4. ^ http://nisubs.co.uk/news.htm
  5. ^ http://www.ulsterhistory.co.uk/magennisvc.htm
  6. ^ http://www.ulsterhistory.co.uk/170107.htm

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] News

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