More about John Joseph McDonagh

John J McDonagh was born in Dundee and was the brother of Maggie McDonagh of 10 Irelands Place, Dundee. He volunteered to join the Royal Navy as a Stoker in April 1912 and gave his occupation as Deck Boy. After training he was drafted to the heavy cruiser HMS Roxburgh but transferred to the submarine service in June 1914. In April 1915 he was serving in HM Submarine E15 operating in support of the Dardanelles campaign. E15 was submerged trying to get through the Narrows to attack Turkish shipping in the Sea of Marmara when strong currents made her run aground near a Turkish gun battery. Their shells struck the submarine, killing the Commanding Officer and six crew before the survivors were forced abandon ship because of chlorine gas formed when sea water reacted with the submarine’s battery. Twenty five men became Prisoners of War and six later died in captivity. John McDonagh survived the harsh conditions of imprisonment until release and repatriation in November 1918 and returned to the Navy, serving in submarines E31 and L15. He had been listed as missing until his release from the Turkish prison camp. In 1921 he became ill and was treated in the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar in Gosport but died. John McDonagh is buried in the RN Cemetery, Haslar Hospital, Gosport, Hampshire Grave Reference C 38 4.