Walter Tyrrell

Captain Walter Alexander Tyrrell (23 August 1898 – 9 June 1918) was a British First World War flying ace credited with seventeen aerial victories.

Early life and background Tyrrell was born in Belfast, one of six sons of John Tyrrell, a merchant, alderman and justice of the peace, and his wife Jeanie (née Todd). The family resided at Fairview Buildings, Crumlin Road.

World War I Tyrrell joined the Royal Navy, serving in the Royal Naval Air Service's Armoured Car Division as a petty officer from 26 December 1914 until 24 November 1915, On 30 August 1917 he was appointed a flying officer and confirmed in his rank.

He was posted to No. 32 Squadron RFC to fly the Airco DH.5 single-seat fighter, and scored five victories (four shared) between 30 October and 5 December 1917. was assigned to operations further north over the Lys Front, where Tyrrell gained two more victories, on 11 and 12 April. and on 3 May Tyrrell drove down two Fokker Dr.I's over Frelinghien, and forced down and captured an LVG reconnaissance aircraft near Poperinghe. Early on 8 May the squadron encountered a large formation of Pfalz D.III fighters, shooting down six, and commanded "B" flight.

On 29 May, following a request from the French for air reinforcements, No. 32 Squadron moved south to Fouquerolles. Early on 6 June Tyrrell and Lieutenant J. W. Trusler shared in sending a Pfalz D.III down in flames, and later the same day Tyrrell accounted for two Fokker D.VII fighters, bringing his total to seventeen, making him the highest scoring ace in his squadron, and the fourth highest Irish-born ace.

On 20 June 1918, only 11 days later, his older brother John Marcus Tyrrell, of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, attached Royal Air Force, was also killed in action. Both men are commemorated on the Queen's University War Memorial in Belfast, and on the Bangor War Memorial, County Down. The settlement of the two brothers' estates prompted a question in Parliament. His oldest brother William Tyrrell (RAF officer) was a rugby player and also served as an army doctor, becoming highly decorated with the Distinguished Service Order and Bar, the Military Cross and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He would later join the same service in 1920 in which his two brothers were killed in action, and served through the Second World War.

Awards and citation Tyrrell's award of the Military Cross was gazetted posthumously on 13 September 1918. His citation read: Temporary Second Lieutenant Walter Alexander Tyrrell, General List, attached Royal Air Force. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one day this officer attacked two enemy triplanes, destroying one and driving down the other out of control. After this he was attacked by two other machines, one of which he forced to land, taking the occupants prisoners. On various other occasions he has destroyed or driven down out of control enemy machines."

List of aerial victories +List of aerial victoriesNo.Date and timeAircraftOpponentResult Location Notes1 30 October 1917at 0845–0925 Airco DH.5 Albatros D.V Destroyed Passchendaele Shared with Captain William Raymond Fish.2 11 November 1917at 15:50 DH.5 Albatros D.V Out of control Poelcapelle 3 13 November 1917at 15:30 DH.5 Type C Out of control South-east of Houthoulst Forest Shared with Captain William Raymond Fish and Second Lieutenants H. C. Leese & A. L. Cuffe.4 20 November 1917at 08:00 DH.5 Albatros C Destroyed in flames Passchendaele Shared with Lieutenant Arthur Claydon and Second Lieutenant A. L. Cuffe.5 5 December 1917at 08:55 DH.5 Type C Out of control Becelaere Shared with Captain William Pearson.6 7 April 1918at 11:15–11:30 S.E.5a Fokker Dr.I Destroyed North-east of Lamotte 7 Albatros D.V Destroyed 8 Albatros D.V Out of control 9 11 April 1918at 19:30 S.E.5a AGO C Destroyed in flames North-east of Bray 10 12 April 1918at 12:10 S.E.5a Pfalz D.III Out of control West of Steenwerck 11 3 May 1918at 12:20-12:35 S.E.5a Fokker Dr.I Out of control Frelinghien 12 Fokker Dr.I Out of control 13 LVG C Captured west-south-west of Poperinghe 14 8 May 1918at 09:40 S.E.5a Pfalz D.III Destroyed Sailly-en-Ostrevent 15 6 June 1918at 05:50 S.E.5a Pfalz D.III Destroyed in flames Romagnies Shared with Lieutenant J. W. Trusler.16 6 June 1918at 18:45–18:50 S.E.5a Fokker D.VII Destroyed in flames Montdidier 17 Fokker D.VII Out of control