Vice-Admiral Raymond Fitz-Maurice was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours, 1942. He was the Commander of the convoy of ships which arrived in Britain just after Christmas, 1941, after being subjected to exceptionally determined and sustained attack by U-boats and long-range aircraft. At least three of the attacking U-boats were sunk and two of the Focke-Wulf aircraft were shot down into the sea, and a third severely damaged. Vice-Admiral Fitz-Maurice had 30 Merchant ships in his charge and his escorts were subjected to continuous attacks by torpedo and otherwise for five days, two merchantmen, amounting to 6,000 tons, being lost; and also the ex-American destroyer H.M.S. “Stanley”, and the auxiliary vessel H.M.S. “Audacity”. Vice-Admiral Fitz-Maurice was born in Kerry in 1878. He retired ten years ago, but was recalled at the outbreak of war. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aWyCp-L6HUEC&pg=PA124&lpg=PA124&dq=Vice-Admiral+Raymond+Fitz-Maurice&source=bl&ots=C4z6XzZiwH&sig=eYG0NilV8HLRlVDompdV_eg9BbI&hl=en&ei=lxsMSoGpCN62jAffjpG7Bg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6#PPA124,M1 http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2834399 Vice Admiral Sir RAYMOND FITZMAURICE K B E, D S O, H.M.S. Eaglet, Royal Naval Reserve who died age 65 on 25 October 1943 Son of John Gerald and Florence Fitzmaurice; husband of Lady Fitzmaurice (nee Bozanquet), of Prinsted, Hampshire. A.D.C. to His Majesty King George V, 1929. Remembered with honour WOKING (ST. JOHN'S) CREMATORIUM Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2. See this thread for reference: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/19413-volunteers-eire-who-have-won-distinctions.html :irishflag[1]:
