b. 11/02/1851 Bawdsey, Suffolk. d. 03/10/1909 St George’s Hospital, Hyde Park Corner, London.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 04/11/1888 Tongue Sand, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria.
John was born on 11th February 1851 in Bawdsey, Suffolk, the eldest child of John and Harriet Dinneen. From an early age, John went to sea, and gained his Master’s Certificate. On 26th December 1874, in Ramsgate, Kent, he married Lucy Jane Miller. Little else is known about his life. He died on 3rd October 1909 at St George’s Hospital, Hyde Park Corner, London.
AM CITATION:
On the 4th November, 1888, the schooner ” Isabella Hall,” of Barrow, stranded on the Tongue Sand, and the crew, having lost their boat in a heavy sea, were obliged to take to the rigging and wait for assistance. Next mor-ning two boats were despatched from two different steamers to their relief, -but could not get near the wreck, owing to the heaviness of the sea, and the shipwrecked crew were in danger of losing their lives, when the steamship ” Albatross,” of London, which was passing up channel, despatched, a boat, manned by the Chief Mate, JOHN DINNEEN, and four seamen, who, notwithstanding strong warnings from the other boats of the danger of the attempt, rowed close to the wreck, and after nearly an hour’s struggle, threw a line on board and rescued one of the crew. He was scarcely got into the boat when a heavy sea nearly swamped her, and washed DINNEEN and three seamen out of her. They, however, managed to regain the boat, and, baling her out, proceeded with their task, and finally succeeded in rescuing the remainder of the shipwrecked men. The service throughout was attended with very great risk and dilliculty, and owed its success chiefly to the energy and determination of DINNEEN, and his constant encouragement of his men.
BURIAL LOCATION: BROCKLEY AND LADYWELL CEMETERY, LEWISHAM, LONDON.
SECTION K, CONSECRATED GROUND.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
