Ajax Veterans Street Dedication: DeCourcy Ireland Circle

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Street Name: DeCourcy-Ireland Circle
Name of Veteran: Stanley Brian DeCourcy-Ireland May 5, 1900-Nov.11, 2001
Rank: Captain (March 19, 1946 to Feb.26, 1948)
Ship Served: HMS Ajax
Date of Service on Ship: 1940 to 1945
Year of Visit/Dedication:
Veteran or Family Visit:
Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: No
Died at Battle: No

Brian was a veteran of the First World War where he served at the battle of Jutland on HMS Bellerophon as midshipman. He was fifteen years old when he was appointed. Regarding the Battle of Jutland, he was quoted as saying, “On May 31 we guessed something was up. I was positioned in one of the 12 inch turrets. We went into action sometime after five o’clock. I reckon Bellerophon fired about 100 rounds of 12 inch. At one point we were rung up to be told we had sunk a German destroyer.” He added, “During a lull we came out of the turret to get some fresh air and there, floating around us, was a whole mass of bodies and debris. Some of our sailors were cheering because they thought they were Germans but they were from the (flagship) Invincible. It was a terrible sight and my first experience of death.”

During the Second World War DeCourcy-Ireland was Commanding Officer of HMS Newcastle and served on the staff of Combined Operations, planning the D-Day landings. He was also the last Captain of the Ajax prior to her de-commissioning.

Brian DeCourcy-Ireland lived near Painswick, Gloucestershire and died on Remembrance Day, 2001 at the age of 101.

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