Herbert Westmacott
British Army officer and first posthumous recipient of the Military Cross
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Captain Herbert Richard Westmacott MC (11 January 1952 – 2 May 1980) was a British Army officer who became the first person to be awarded a posthumous Military Cross. As an officer of the Grenadier Guards (2nd Battalion)[1] on extra regimental employment to the Special Air Service (SAS), he died in an encounter with the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
11 January 1952
United KingdomHerbert Westmacott | |
|---|---|
| Born | Herbert Richard Westmacott 11 January 1952 Chichester, West Sussex, England |
| Died | 2 May 1980 (aged 28) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Buried | St Michael's Church, Up Marden, West Sussex, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Service number | 491354 |
| Unit | Grenadier Guards Special Air Service |
| Conflicts | Operation Banner † |
| Awards | Military Cross |
| Relations | Peter Westmacott (cousin) |
He was in command of an eight-man plainclothes SAS patrol that had been alerted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary that IRA gunmen had taken over a house on Antrim Road, Belfast.[2] A car carrying three SAS men went to the rear of the house, and another car carrying five SAS men went to the front of the house.[3] As the SAS arrived at the front of the house the IRA unit, nicknamed the "M60 gang", opened fire from a window with an M60 machine gun, hitting Westmacott in the head and shoulder and killing him instantly.[3] The remaining SAS men at the front returned fire but were forced to withdraw.[2][3] One member of the IRA team was apprehended by the SAS at the rear of the house while preparing the unit's escape in a transit van. The other three IRA members remained inside the house.[4] More members of the security forces were deployed to the scene, and after a brief siege the remaining members of the IRA unit surrendered.[2][5]
After his death Westmacott was posthumously awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in Northern Ireland during the period 1 February to 30 April 1980.[6] He is buried in the churchyard of St Michael's, Up Marden, West Sussex.[7]
His cousin is Peter Westmacott, a British ambassador who facilitated the first meeting between Gerry Adams and Patrick Mayhew.[8]
Several men, including Angelo Fusco, Paul Magee and Joe Doherty, were convicted in absentia of murder in June 1981 by the Northern Ireland authorities after they escaped from custody.[5][9][10]