Corporal James McCarthy AM
Albert Medal awarded to McCarthy. NAM 1976-12-24
‘In the few seconds between the detonator’s crack and the explosion of the grenade McCarthy realised that wherever he threw it there would be severe casualties among his comrades. He placed their lives before his own.’ - Captain Blanckenzee, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment
This Albert Medal in Gold was awarded posthumously to Corporal James McCarthy, Royal Irish Regiment, for his actions on 24 January 1918. Corporal McCarthy was serving in Palestine and was in a bivouac when a grenade that was being cleaned by a young and inexperienced soldier was activated. McCarthy had a few brief moments in which to decide his course of action.
British troops in Palestine, 1918. NAM 1993-01-143-15
McCarthy chose to use his body to shield the other men from the explosion, thus saving them from certain death. Only the fact that this incident did not take place in the face of the enemy prevented him from being recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC). The Albert Medal (AM) was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1866 to reward heroic actions for saving life. Only 15 gold medals have been awarded in the Army. The Albert Medal has now been replaced by the George Cross (GC).
