Commander John Witham Esmonde was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in October, 1941, for mastery, determination and skill in action against the German battleship “Bismarck”. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in December, 1943. Commander Esmonde comes from Dublin. No further details cited. http://thepeerage.com/p26746.htm#i267454 Captain John Witham Esmonde was born on 13 August 1907. He is the son of John Joseph Esmonde and Eily O'Sullivan. He married Aileen Mary Harold-Barry, daughter of Harold Philip Harold-Barry and Helen Frances Mary Riddell, on 29 October 1940. He died in 1983. Captain John Witham Esmonde gained the rank of Captain (Engineering) in the service of the Royal Navy. He fought in the Second World War. He was invested as a Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in 1943. He was decorated with the award of Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.). As of 1976, Captain John Witham Esmonde lived at Ballyellis, Buttevant, County Cork, Ireland. See this thread for reference: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/researc...tinctions.html :irishflag[1]:
