George Edward Henry "McIrish" McElroy (1893-1918) was one of Britain's top-scoring air aces (and Ireland's highest) of World War One, with 47 victories. Born on 14 May 1893 in Donnybrook, Dublin, McElroy was prompt in enlisting once war broke out in August 1914, arriving in France two months later. The following May McElroy joined the Royal Irish Regiment where, at Ypres, he suffered badly from a mustard gas attack. Having spent a period recuperating at home in Dublin McElroy was drafted in to assist in quelling the Easter Rising in his home city in April 1916. Refusing to fire upon his countrymen McElroy was despatched to a southern garrison for the duration of the summer as a form of punishment. Towards the close of 1916 McElroy, fascinated by the air war, sought and received a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. He received training at Upavon in February 1917 after which he travelled once again to France, serving with Squadron 40 in Bruay. As a protégé of Edward Mannock he proved a highly successful fighter pilot, achieving 47 'kills' within the space of just forty weeks. Tragically, McElroy was lost (probably to anti-aircraft fire) while flying an S.E.5a just five days after Mannock himself, the former on 31 July 1918 in the skies above Laventie. On the July 31st 1918 McElroy reported destroying a Hannover C for his 47th victory. He then set out again. He failed to return from this flight and was posted missing. Later the Germans dropped a note saying that McElroy had been killed by ground fire. He was 25 years old. McElroy would receive the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously on August 3rd, citing his shooting down 35 airplanes and three observation balloons. The Bar would arrive still later, on September 21, and would laud his low-level attacks. It appears likely that just such an attack was the end of him. In summary, McElroy shot down four enemy planes in flames and destroyed 23 others, one of which he shared destroyed with other pilots. He drove down 16 enemy craft 'out of control', and thus out of the fight; in one of those cases, it was a shared success. He also destroyed three balloons. McElroy is buried at the Laventie Military Cemetery in northern France, along with his friend Mannock. In Memory of Captain G E H McELROY M C and 2 Bars, D F C and Bar Royal Air Force who died age 25 on 31 July 1918 Son of Samuel McElroy, B.A., and Ellen McElroy, of Donnybrook School, Dublin. Remembered with honour LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE
Note that he got into trouble for refusing to fire on his countrymen in the Irish uprising - he risked being court-martialled or even shot. Not surprising that he got on well with the socialist Mannock - both were willing to be unpopular for their principles.
