__NOTOC__ Walter Anderson (27 July 1890 – 11 May 1959) was a recipient of the George Cross and an officer 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) an ...

(RAF).

Life

Anderson was born in

County Cork County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns a ...

on 27 July 1890. He entered the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

in 1906 as a Boy 2nd Class and in 1916 transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service. He then joined the RAF, where by 1920 he was a Technical Officer. After service in India and

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...

, he returned to the UK as an Armament Officer at a Flying Training School in Kent. He retired from the RAF in 1932, and died on 11 May 1959 at

Hythe, Hampshire Hythe () is a town near Southampton, Hampshire, England. It is located by the shore of Southampton Water, and has a ferry service connecting it to Southampton. Hythe has a small shopping area, a pier, and a marina for yachts. History The name ...

Medal action

On 10 December 1928, Pilot Officer, 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 Belfast Telegraph, Friday 28 February 1964. Page 10. 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 derive ...

in Kent, crashed into the sea, about 200 yards from the shore. In cold and rough conditions, Corporal Thomas McTeague and Flying Officer 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 Anderson and McTeague 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 Meda ...

, converted into the George Cross when that award was instituted in 1940. In 1942, accompanied by McTeague, Anderson attended an investiture at Buckingham Palace for the George Cross.

Citation

References

External links

Biography of Walter AndersonVConline.org.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Walter 1890 births 1959 deaths Recipients of the Empire Gallantry Medal British recipients of the George Cross Royal Air Force officers Military personnel from County Cork