__NOTOC__ Thomas Patrick McTeague (2 October 1893 – 28 February 1961) was a recipient of the

George Cross The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, has been ...

and an NCO in the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

(RAF).

Life

'Tommy' McTeague was born on 2 October 1893 in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

. At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he joined the

Royal Irish Rifles The Royal Irish Rifles (became the Royal Ulster Rifles from 1 January 1921) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army, first created in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot and the 86th (Royal County ...

, and in 1917 was awarded the

Distinguished Conduct Medal The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranki ...

for bravery. After demobilisation in 1919, he joined the RAF and became an air gunner in twin engine bi-planes. By 1928 he was a corporal serving in the RAF Armament and Gunnery School in Kent. He continued to serve in the RAF, retiring as a

Warrant Officer Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the mos ...

, and then working as a civilian at the RAF Careers Office in Northern Ireland for some years.

Belfast Telegraph The ''Belfast Telegraph'' is a daily newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Independent News & Media. Its editor is Eoin Brannigan. Reflecting its unionist tradition, the paper has historically been "favoured by the Protestant po ...

, Friday 28 February 1964. Page 10. McTeague died on 28 February 1961 in Belfast and was buried in

Milltown Cemetery Milltown Cemetery ( ga, Reilig Bhaile an Mhuilinn) is a large cemetery in west Belfast, Northern Ireland. It lies within the townland of Ballymurphy, between Falls Road and the M1 motorway. History Milltown Cemetery opened in 1869 as part ...

Medal action

On 10 December 1928,

Pilot Officer Pilot officer (Plt Off officially in the RAF; in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly P/O in all services, and still often used in the RAF) is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countri ...

, later Air Chief Marshall Sir,

Hugh Constantine Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Alex Constantine, (23 May 1908 – 16 April 1992) was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Flying Training Command. RAF career Educated at Christ's Hospital, Constantine joined the R ...

, while flying a Siskin fighter aircraft off Leysdown on the

Isle of Sheppey The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England, neighbouring the Thames Estuary, centred from central London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale. ''Sheppey'' is derived ...

in Kent, crashed into the sea, about 200 yards from the shore. In cold and rough conditions, Corporal McTeague and Flying Officer Walter Anderson swam from the shore to Constantine who was in a state of collapse. Through their combined efforts McTeague and Anderson were able to bring Constantine back to the land. Both McTeague and Anderson were awarded the

Empire Gallantry Medal The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, known as the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM), was a British medal awarded for acts of gallantry. Unlike the then existing Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM) (1854), the Albert Medal ...

, converted into the

when that award was instituted in 1940. ''(Royal Warrant for George Cross, section 11)''. In 1942, accompanied by Anderson, McTeague attended an investiture at Buckingham Palace for the George Cross.

Citation

References

External links

Biography of Thomas McTeague
{{DEFAULTSORT:McTeague, Thomas 1893 births 1961 deaths Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal Recipients of the Empire Gallantry Medal British recipients of the George Cross Royal Air Force airmen Military personnel from Belfast Burials in Northern Ireland British Army personnel of World War I Royal Ulster Rifles officers