"Fogarty-Fegan" ADM 1/10496

PROPOSED V.C. FOR THE LATE COMMANDER FEGEN, OF H.M.S. JERVIS BAY.

The Honours and Awards Committee submit that the King be immediately invited to approve the award of a Posthummous Victoria Cross to the late Commander (acting Captain) Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen, for valour in giving his life and challenging hopeless odds to save the Convoy of which he was in charge.

The only possible relevant case in this war is that of the late Captain Kennedy of RAWALPINDI, who was not awarded the Victoria Cross. A special letter on vellum was sent to his widow. It is, however, submitted that the two cased are by no means on all fours. RAWALPINDI was sighted by the enemy when on patrol, attacked and sunk after a short engagement, in which she seems to have been fought with great courage. Jervis Bay deliberately made straight for an enemy of overwhelming strength, and, though her own guns were never within range, held the Raider's fir for nearly an hour, and thereby saved 32 or 33 of a Convoy of 38.

(R.Gleadowe) for HEAD OF COMMISSION AND WARRANT BARNCH.

14TH November, 1940.

The Rawalpindi whilst on patrol was surprised by a superior enemy force which came up on her quarter at dusk. She had not the speed to escape and the end and came soon. One feels sure that Captain Kennedy was gallant to the last but there is evidence to show that any action taken, or order given, by ship or Captain was of such a gallant nature as to merit the Victoria Cross.

In this case of the Jervis Bay there is evidence from a convoy of ships, including that of the Commander of the Convoy, to that Captain Fegen could have, had he wished, turned to Southward with the remainder of the convoy in an endeavour to escape. Had he done so the Jervis Bay might well have got away unscathed but at the expense of more loss in the convoy. Rather than do this Captain Fegen turned boldly towards the enemy, and to certain destruction thereby giving the convoy greatest time in which to sail and escape. This was a brave decision, made without any apparent hesitation and I think fully merits [the] award of the Victoria Cross.

Naval Secretary