Geoffrey Medcalf (26 December 1921 – 14 January 2021) was one of the founding members of Probus in 1993. He was, in his own words, ‘hewn from Dalkey granite’ having lived in Dalkey for most of his life and passed away in Our Lady’s Manor in his 100th year.
Geoff joined the RAF Coastal Command in 1941 at the age of 20, having been an apprentice electrician. Following training in Warrington, he worked initially on the maintenance of the Bristol Beaufighters, a multi-role aircraft and also de Havilland Mosquitos, built with a wooden frame and known as ‘Wooden Wonders’.
These aircraft were on maritime patrol and coastal reconnaissance coastal patrols. Most of Geoff’s war service was in Iceland working on aircraft patrolling the North Atlantic, or escorting Russian convoys en route to Murmansk. Aside from being recognized with the award of the MBE, Geoff was decorated twice by the Russian Government for his role in charge of the flare path of supporting aircraft that protected the Arctic convoys.
The MBE is an order of the British Empire award that ranks third after CBE (Commander of the British Empire) and OBE (Order of the British Empire). The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was introduced in 1917 to recognise contributions to the war effort. It was instituted in five classes with the Medal of the Order (essentially a sixth class award) extending its scope to include relatively unknown individuals, often putting themselves in harms way, both in carrying out duties and in performing acts of bravery and lifesaving
There were 78 convoys between 1941 and 1945. Altogether, about 1,400 merchant ships delivered essential supplies to the Soviet Union which were escorted by ships from the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and US Navy as well as fighter aircraft.
Eighteen months after the War he was discharged and returned to Dalkey where he secured employment with Fullers Cakes Co remembered for the famous chain of tea shops which opened in Dublin in 1947 and for their own branded cakes. Heaven for residents of boarding schools in the 1950’s was to receive a Fuller cake (cost six shillings) in a parcel – the walnut cake being the most famous. and later a cash and carry company.
Geoff resided on Castlepark Road. He had been married to Jane (nee Mackesy) who died in August 2017 in her 91st year. She worked for many years in Castlepark School directly opposite their home.
Jane’s father, Major Joseph P T Mackesy, a World War I veteran in the Royal Munster Fusiliers. He had been the district recruiting officer in Co Kilkenny before being invalided out of the army due to ill health following a motor accident two years previously in Castlecomer. Major Machesy subsequently resided in Dalkey where he publicly flew the Eurcharistic Congress flag in the garden of his Dalkey garden in 1932 – despite being a member of the Church of Ireland .
Geoff and Jane presented the flag to the people of Dun Laoghaire in 2016 as a memento to honour Joseph. It is on permanent display in premises of The Dun Laoghaire Club (formerly Kingstown Mens Christian Institute) premises Eblana Lodge, 43 Upper Georges Street. The Club was established in 1884 to cater for young Protestant men moving from the country for their first job in Edward Lee & Co. Catholic men and women were admitted from the 1970’s. A bar was installed and a pint of Guinness could be purchased for €4. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Myles Duffy