Sir Standish O'Grady Roche, 4th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Standish O'Grady Roche, 4th Baronet, DSO
(or Standish O'Grady-Roche) (13 March 1911 – 2 April 1977) of Ireland
, was commanding officer
of the destroyer
HMS Beaufort
in the World War II
Second Battle of Sirte
on March 22, 1942. He earned the Distinguished Service Order
and Croix de Guerre
while protecting convoys near Malta
.http://www3.sympatico.ca/jfroache/addR.html He also served as aide-de-camp
to the Governor-General
of New Zealand
through January 1938 while a Royal Navy
lieutenant
.http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/NEW-ZEALAND/2002-06/1025409017
He became baronet
on December 9, 1914 at the age of 3 on the death of his father Standish Dean O'Grady Roche.http://www.leighrayment.com/baronetage/baronetsR2.htm His mother was Cecilia, daughter of Henry Dean O'Grady of Lodge, County Limerick
, Stillorgan Castle, County Dublin
, and Merrion Square.http://www3.sympatico.ca/jfroache/addR.html
He was married in Malta on February 9, 1946 to Evelyn Laura Andon (3rd Officer, WRNS
), daughter of Major William Valentine Hoskins Andon.http://website.lineone.net/~remosliema/Wrens.htm At the time of his marriage he was a lieutenant commander
.
He sold the family's Carlow
estate in 1968. He was succeeded as baronet by his elder son.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(or Standish O'Grady-Roche) (13 March 1911 – 2 April 1977) of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, was commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
HMS Beaufort
HMS Beaufort (L14)
HMS Beaufort was a Hunt class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was laid down on 17 July 1940 at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. She was launched on 9 June 1941 and commissioned on 3 November 1941....
in the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Second Battle of Sirte
Second Battle of Sirte
The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval engagement in which the escorting warships of a British convoy to Malta frustrated a much more powerful Regia Marina squadron. The British convoy was composed of four merchant ships escorted by four light cruisers, one anti-aircraft cruiser, and 17 destroyers...
on March 22, 1942. He earned the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
while protecting convoys near Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
.http://www3.sympatico.ca/jfroache/addR.html He also served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
through January 1938 while a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/NEW-ZEALAND/2002-06/1025409017
He became baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on December 9, 1914 at the age of 3 on the death of his father Standish Dean O'Grady Roche.http://www.leighrayment.com/baronetage/baronetsR2.htm His mother was Cecilia, daughter of Henry Dean O'Grady of Lodge, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Stillorgan Castle, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, and Merrion Square.http://www3.sympatico.ca/jfroache/addR.html
He was married in Malta on February 9, 1946 to Evelyn Laura Andon (3rd Officer, WRNS
Women's Royal Naval Service
The Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
), daughter of Major William Valentine Hoskins Andon.http://website.lineone.net/~remosliema/Wrens.htm At the time of his marriage he was a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
.
He sold the family's Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
estate in 1968. He was succeeded as baronet by his elder son.
External links
- Pictures of Sir Standish O'Grady Roche as a youth