George cross recipient. Thomas married Emily Hepplewhite, and they went on to have a son and three daughters. By 1908, he was working as a dockyard labourer and painter. On 27th November 1908, he was working at the Jarrow Shipbuilders when workmen were engaged in painting the inside of a tank in the hold of the SS Cairngorm. Owing to the very strong fumes being given off by the anti-corrosive paint used, the men worked in 10 to 15 minute relays. When a workman called Graham was overcome by the fumes, the chargeman, Archibald Wilson, attempted to extract him, but was unsuccessful, he himself being overcome and sacrificing his life in the attempt. McCormack, who had already been affected by the fumes while working in the tank, went to Wilson's aid, but was rendered insensible, and was himself rescued by James Chapman, the Works Manager, who, having pulled McCormack out, re-entered the tank and endeavoured to save Graham, but was himself overcome by the fumes. The rescue of Chapman and Graham was eventually made from the top of the tank. On the 23rd July 1909, James Kennedy Chapman and Thomas McCormack were gazetted for the award of the Albert Medal for Gallantry on Saving Life on Land. Archibald Wilson was later awarded a posthumous Albert Medal. For the same action, Thomas was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, the first recipient of this honour. Following the award of the AM, Thomas returned to work in the dockyards, where he would spend the rest of his working life. He became a member of the Albert Medal Association.
George cross recipient. Thomas married Emily Hepplewhite, and they went on to have a son and three daughters. By 1908, he was working as a dockyard labourer and painter. On 27th November 1908, he was working at the Jarrow Shipbuilders when workmen were engaged in painting the inside of a tank in the hold of the SS Cairngorm. Owing to the very strong fumes being given off by the anti-corrosive paint used, the men worked in 10 to 15 minute relays. When a workman called Graham was overcome by the fumes, the chargeman, Archibald Wilson, attempted to extract him, but was unsuccessful, he himself being overcome and sacrificing his life in the attempt. McCormack, who had already been affected by the fumes while working in the tank, went to Wilson's aid, but was rendered insensible, and was himself rescued by James Chapman, the Works Manager, who, having pulled McCormack out, re-entered the tank and endeavoured to save Graham, but was himself overcome by the fumes. The rescue of Chapman and Graham was eventually made from the top of the tank. On the 23rd July 1909, James Kennedy Chapman and Thomas McCormack were gazetted for the award of the Albert Medal for Gallantry on Saving Life on Land. Archibald Wilson was later awarded a posthumous Albert Medal. For the same action, Thomas was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, the first recipient of this honour. Following the award of the AM, Thomas returned to work in the dockyards, where he would spend the rest of his working life. He became a member of the Albert Medal Association.
Bio by: Paul Barnett
Advertisement
See more McCormack memorials in:
Advertisement
