George Medal GVIR (991199 L.A.C. JAMES MCKAY MCCABE. R.A.F.V.R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 (unnamed as awarded)
991199 LAC James McKay McCabe was born in Scotland in 1922 A Nursing Orderly, he served with RAFVR Sqdn 73 (Bristol) in WW2 and was active in North Africa/Italy. He was awarded the George Medal for brilliant rescue work in the London Gazette of 22 August 1944
McCabe's London Gazette entry for the award of the George Medal, which was also awarded to Leonard Maynard Williams for the same deed, read thus:
"One evening in February 1944, these airmen showed exceptional courage and devotion to duty when an aircraft, carrying a full bomb load, crashed and caught fire. Leading Aircraftsman Williams, who was nearby, was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the accident and, in spite of exploding ammunition and the danger of the bombs exploding, he succeeded in rescuing the rear gunner. Then, with the assistance of two others, he proceeded to take the gunner to safety; the first bomb exploded when they were only 50 yards away.
Leading Aircraftsman McCabe, a nursing orderly, arrived in the ambulance within 4 minutes of the aircraft crashing. The first bomb had already exploded and, although fully aware that others were likely to detonate at any moment, he continued to the aircraft and located a member of the crew who was already, unfortunately, dead. Leading Aircraftsman McCabe helped to move the body to a place of safety. When only 20 yards away from the aircraft, a second bomb exploded and no further rescues could be effected. These Aircraftsmen displayed high courage and a complete disregard for their own safety."
The Banffshire Journal of 12 November 1968 takes up the story of what happened to him after the incident:
"Mr James McCabe of Glenlivet, Banffshire, who was awarded the George Medal for helping to rescue the crew of a Wellington bomber which crashed in flames in Italy in 1944, has died at the West Middlesex Hospital, Ilseworth, London, at the age of 49. Shortly after his heroic rescue, he received severe spinal wounds and was flown home to hospital in Swindon. Since then he had been confined to a wheel chair.
When he came back to Scotland, he was a patient at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, and although able occasionally to go out and do specialist work he never recovered from his injuries. For the past 6 years he had been a patient at the Duchess of Gloucester Home in London. Mr McCabe was one of a family of five sons and two daughters. His widowed mother, Mrs Helen McCabe, lives at Springlea. Glenlivet"
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with copied research.
