John McAleese
Encyclopedia
John Thomas McAleese MM
(25 April 1949 – 26 August 2011) was a British Army
soldier who led an SAS
team which assaulted the Iranian embassy in London in May 1980 to end the Iranian Embassy siege
. With a distinctive horseshoe moustache
, he become known for retelling his story on TV and for taking part in the reality show, SAS: Are You Tough Enough?
McAleese was born in Stirling
and grew up in Laurieston
, Stirlingshire
. He joined 59 Independent Commando, Royal Engineers
, in 1969, aged 20. He moved to Hereford
in 1975 after being accepted by the SAS. He was a lance corporal
in 1980, serving in Pagoda Troop, B Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment, when he was famously seen with members of his team - Blue Team - on live television placing an explosive frame-charge on the front first floor balcony of the Iranian Embassy prior to the assault on 5 May 1980.
He also served in the Falkland Island in 1982, and was awarded the Military Medal in 1988 for service in Northern Ireland. He also served as a bodyguard for three British prime ministers. He was discharged from the British Army
on 8 February 1992 in the rank of sergeant. Later he worked as a security consultant in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was an Airsoft
instructor.
He is thought to have suffered a heart attack, and died in Thessaloniki
, Greece
. His funeral was held at Hereford Cathedral
.
He married twice. In 2009, his elder son, 29-year-old Sergeant Paul McAleese of 2 Battalion The Rifles was killed on active duty in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province
. He was survived by his second wife, a daughter by his first marriage, and two children by his second marriage.
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(25 April 1949 – 26 August 2011) was a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
soldier who led an SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
team which assaulted the Iranian embassy in London in May 1980 to end the Iranian Embassy siege
Iranian Embassy Siege
The Iranian Embassy siege took place from 30 April to 5 May 1980, after a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy in South Kensington, London. The gunmen took 26 people hostage—mostly embassy staff, but several visitors and a police officer, who had been guarding the embassy, were also...
. With a distinctive horseshoe moustache
Horseshoe moustache
A horseshoe moustache is a full moustache with vertical extensions grown on the corners of the lips and down the sides of the mouth to the jawline, resembling an upside-down U or a horseshoe...
, he become known for retelling his story on TV and for taking part in the reality show, SAS: Are You Tough Enough?
SAS: Are You Tough Enough?
SAS: Are You Tough Enough was a British documentary series exposing volunteer members of the public to the experience of the SAS selection process presented by Dermot O'Leary. On average only 10 out of the 125 soldiers taking the real SAS selection procedure pass. In contrast to the real SAS, this...
McAleese was born in Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
and grew up in Laurieston
Laurieston, Falkirk
Laurieston is a village in the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. It is east Falkirk, south-west of Grangemouth and west of Polmont.Laurieston is located on the A803 road between Falkirk and Polmont...
, Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the former county town. It borders Perthshire to the north, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian to the east, Lanarkshire to the south, and Dunbartonshire to the south-west.Until 1975 it was a county...
. He joined 59 Independent Commando, Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, in 1969, aged 20. He moved to Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
in 1975 after being accepted by the SAS. He was a lance corporal
Lance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
in 1980, serving in Pagoda Troop, B Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment, when he was famously seen with members of his team - Blue Team - on live television placing an explosive frame-charge on the front first floor balcony of the Iranian Embassy prior to the assault on 5 May 1980.
He also served in the Falkland Island in 1982, and was awarded the Military Medal in 1988 for service in Northern Ireland. He also served as a bodyguard for three British prime ministers. He was discharged from the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
on 8 February 1992 in the rank of sergeant. Later he worked as a security consultant in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was an Airsoft
Airsoft
Airsoft is a sport in which participants shoot round non-metallic pellets launched via replica firearms.Gameplay varies in style and composition but often range from short-term skirmishes, organized scenarios, military simulations, historical reenactments, to competition target shooting events...
instructor.
He is thought to have suffered a heart attack, and died in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. His funeral was held at Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
.
He married twice. In 2009, his elder son, 29-year-old Sergeant Paul McAleese of 2 Battalion The Rifles was killed on active duty in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
. He was survived by his second wife, a daughter by his first marriage, and two children by his second marriage.