1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal 1953; Naval General Service Medal GVIR (FX.77402 J.L. DONNELLY. C.P.O. AIR. H.M.S. HORNBILL)
John Lawrence Donnelly RN was born in Guisborough, Yorkshire in 1914. According to the 1939 Register he was at home at 8 Holmeback Road, North Skelton- a survivor of the sinking of HMS Courageous a few weeks before. He was recorded as being with the R.N.A.S. as an Air Gunner and was on "Survivor's Leave."
The Courageous departed Plymouth on the evening of 3 September 1939 for an anti-submarine patrol in the Western Approaches, escorted by four destroyers. On the evening of 17 September 1939, she was on one such patrol off the coast of Ireland. Two of her four escorting destroyers had been sent to help a merchant ship under attack and all her aircraft had returned from patrols. During this time, Courageous was stalked for over two hours by U-29, commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Otto Schuhart.
The carrier then turned into the wind to launch her aircraft. This put the ship right across the bow of the submarine, which fired three torpedoes. Two of the torpedoes struck the ship on her port side before any aircraft took off, knocking out all electrical power, and she capsized and sank in 20 minutes with the loss of 519 of her crew, including her captain. The survivors were rescued by the Dutch ocean liner Veendam and the British freighter Collingworth.
The two escorting destroyers counterattacked U-29 for four hours, but the submarine escaped. An earlier unsuccessful attack on Ark Royal by U-39 on 14 September, followed by the sinking of Courageous three days later, prompted the Royal Navy to withdraw its carriers from anti-submarine patrols. Courageous was the first British warship to be sunk by German forces.
The commander of the German submarine force, Commodore Karl Dönitz, regarded the sinking of Courageous as "a wonderful success" and it led to widespread jubilation in the Kriegsmarine (German navy). Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, commander of the Kriegsmarine, directed that Schuhart be awarded the Iron Cross First Class and that all other members of the crew receive the Iron Cross Second Class.
24 Royal Marines are listed as Missing Presumed Dead and remembered on the Plymouth War Memorial, some 681 ratings and officers did survive the ordeal.
Donnelly was featured in a article in the South Bank Express of 30 September 1939 which read, partially, thus,
"Mr Donnelly who is a member of the Air Arm Fleet, joined the Courageous six weeks ago. "I had just finished my supper when I heard a bang and all the lights went out. The ship listed badly. I hoisted a pole into the water and climbed down and rendered some assistance to others in the water and then swam to the Destroyer. I would be in the water for about three quarters of an hour. It was an experience I shall never forget but it won't deter me in any way. Everyone was calm and there was no panic."
So in a few days Mr Donnelly leaves the peaceful atmosphere of North Skelton to rejoin a depot, and from there? Who knows where. He will again take up duty assisting in stamping out Hitler. "Real Cleveland grit."
Donnelly returned to duty after his ordeal and was awarded the LSGCM medal in 1947 whilst aboard Hornbill. He was also awarded the 1953 Coronation Medal as an Aircraftsman 1st Class.
He passed away in Liverpool in 1980.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold together with copied research.
