only Northern Irishman to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the Second World War

[Mr Quatro]

Brave man for sure



On 31 July 1945, Acting Leading Seaman Joseph Magennis of HMS XE3 was part of a submarine crew tasked with sinking a 10,000 ton Japanese cruiser. After Magennis’ submarine was in place beneath the cruiser, he exited the diver’s hatch and placed limpet mines onto its hull.

To attach the mines, Magennis had to hack at barnacles on its hull, and suffered from a leak in his oxygen mask. On withdrawing, his Lieutenant found one of the submarine’s limpet carriers would not jettison. Magennis exited the submarine in his diver’s suit again and freed the limpet carrier after seven minutes of nerve-wracking work.

He was the only Northern Irishman to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the Second World War, and died in 1986