William McAloney
Encyclopedia
William Simpson McAloney GC
, OBE
(12 May 1910 – 31 August 1995) was an Australia
n recipient of the Albert Medal
, formerly the highest decoration for gallantry awarded to civilians or to military personnel for actions "not in the face of the enemy" in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. An aircraftman
in the Royal Australian Air Force
, McAloney was decorated with the Albert Medal after he attempted to rescue an officer trapped in the flaming wreckage of an aircraft. With the establishment of the George Cross, the Albert Medal was discontinued and, in 1971, living recipients of the decoration were invited to exchange their medal for the George Cross
; McAloney took up the offer and formally became a recipient of the George Cross.
, South Australia
. He was educated at Thebarton Technical High School and the Adelaide School of Mines. In 1935, McAloney married Dora Winifred Johnson; the pair later had seven children. On 1 July 1936, McAloney enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force.
were engaged in flight training, during which they landed at an airbase in Hamilton
, Victoria
. Recommencing their journey, the first aircraft had already taken off when the second was seen to have difficulties. Out of control, the second aircraft struck the ground; bursting into flames. McAloney—who was a passenger in the third aircraft—immediately leapt out of his plane and ran towards the wreckage. Dashing into the flames, he began searching for Pilot Officer
K.W. McKenzie, the aircraft's pilot who was trapped. McAloney continued his attempts to rescue McKenzie, until he fell unconscious from severe burns to his body and was dragged out of the aircraft. Due to his wounds, McAloney spent the following four weeks in hospital receiving treatment.
Although McAloney's rescue attempt was unsuccessful, his actions were recognised with the award of the Albert Medal. The notification and accompanying citation for the decoration was published in the London Gazette
on 18 February 1938, reading:
Recovering from his burns, McAloney continued to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force. During the Second World War, he was posted to New Guinea
, where he served as an engineering officer. Between 1960 and 1966, he served as Officer Commanding Engineering Squadron, Aircraft Research and Development Unit, based at Laverton
. For his services with the unit, McAloney was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1966 New Year Honours List. He retired from the air force on 9 December 1966 with the rank of wing commander
.
would in future be treated as recipients of the George Cross, and were invited to exchange their medals for the latter award. As such, those who wished to exchange their insignia were invited to attend an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace
to receive their George Crosses. McAloney was among five Australian Albert Medal recipients who received their George Cross from Queen Elizabeth II
on 12 July 1972.
Aged 85, McAloney died on 31 August 1995. He was survived by his wife and six of their seven children. The seventh child, John Douglas McAloney, had served as an army officer during the Vietnam War
and was decorated with the Military Cross
on 1 August 1967 for rescuing one of his men who had been wounded by a Viet Cong sniper, and then personally clearing several caves defended by Viet Cong, despite himself having been wounded in the right temple; he died in 1991.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(12 May 1910 – 31 August 1995) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n recipient of the Albert Medal
Albert Medal (lifesaving)
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognise the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.The Albert Medal was first instituted by a Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971 with the last two awards promulgated in the London Gazette of...
, formerly the highest decoration for gallantry awarded to civilians or to military personnel for actions "not in the face of the enemy" in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. An aircraftman
Aircraftman
Aircraftman , or Aircraftwoman , is the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of several other Commonwealth countries....
in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, McAloney was decorated with the Albert Medal after he attempted to rescue an officer trapped in the flaming wreckage of an aircraft. With the establishment of the George Cross, the Albert Medal was discontinued and, in 1971, living recipients of the decoration were invited to exchange their medal for the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
; McAloney took up the offer and formally became a recipient of the George Cross.
Early life
McAloney was born on 12 May 1910, in AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He was educated at Thebarton Technical High School and the Adelaide School of Mines. In 1935, McAloney married Dora Winifred Johnson; the pair later had seven children. On 1 July 1936, McAloney enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force.
Military career
On 31 August 1937, three aircraft from No. 1 Squadron RAAFNo. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
were engaged in flight training, during which they landed at an airbase in Hamilton
Hamilton, Victoria
Hamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Recommencing their journey, the first aircraft had already taken off when the second was seen to have difficulties. Out of control, the second aircraft struck the ground; bursting into flames. McAloney—who was a passenger in the third aircraft—immediately leapt out of his plane and ran towards the wreckage. Dashing into the flames, he began searching for Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
K.W. McKenzie, the aircraft's pilot who was trapped. McAloney continued his attempts to rescue McKenzie, until he fell unconscious from severe burns to his body and was dragged out of the aircraft. Due to his wounds, McAloney spent the following four weeks in hospital receiving treatment.
Although McAloney's rescue attempt was unsuccessful, his actions were recognised with the award of the Albert Medal. The notification and accompanying citation for the decoration was published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 18 February 1938, reading:
Recovering from his burns, McAloney continued to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force. During the Second World War, he was posted to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, where he served as an engineering officer. Between 1960 and 1966, he served as Officer Commanding Engineering Squadron, Aircraft Research and Development Unit, based at Laverton
Laverton, Victoria
Laverton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Laverton had a population of 4508.-History:...
. For his services with the unit, McAloney was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1966 New Year Honours List. He retired from the air force on 9 December 1966 with the rank of wing commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
.
Later life
During 1971, the British Government announced that all living recipients of the Albert Medal and Edward MedalEdward Medal
The Edward Medal is a British civilian decoration which was instituted by Royal Warrant on 13 July 1907 to recognise acts of bravery of miners and quarrymen in endangering their lives to rescue their fellow workers...
would in future be treated as recipients of the George Cross, and were invited to exchange their medals for the latter award. As such, those who wished to exchange their insignia were invited to attend an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
to receive their George Crosses. McAloney was among five Australian Albert Medal recipients who received their George Cross from Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on 12 July 1972.
Aged 85, McAloney died on 31 August 1995. He was survived by his wife and six of their seven children. The seventh child, John Douglas McAloney, had served as an army officer during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and was decorated with the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
on 1 August 1967 for rescuing one of his men who had been wounded by a Viet Cong sniper, and then personally clearing several caves defended by Viet Cong, despite himself having been wounded in the right temple; he died in 1991.