Evening star., 1942-04-19
Doormon Here Was Honored
By King George Y for VoIor
Employe at RoIeieh
Had Luncheon at
Buckingham Palace
By JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

new 10 James McGrath. stalwart
stiff -mustsched doorman at the
Raleigh Hotel for nearly 20 years
But probably none of the no.
tables he has greeted at the hotel
has a more colorful personal his
tory than his own.
This former member of the Brit
ish police force, now a citizen Of
the United States, holds three hon.
or medals and citation for con-
spicuous valor and has been
luncheon guest of the King of Eng
land in recognition of his bravery.
His most distinguished decoration
is the King George Medal. highest
ponceman's award in the United
Kingdom. 1t was pinned on him
by King George V, father Of the
present King of England. He re-
ceived it with 30 others from all
over the British Empire November
4, 1910. After the ceremony he
and the others had luncheon with
the King at Buckingham Palace.
Captured Dangerous Criminal.
This recognition was given to him
for capturing a notorious criminal.
who had wounded him dangerously
before Mr. McGrath in a three hour
chase despite his wounds, finally
landed him in the police station
at Sheffield. England.
Suspended from its original bit of
striped blue and silver ribbon the
medal of silver is about the size
of an American silver dollar. 1t
bears bas relief of King George
and on the other side is a figure
encircled by the inscription. In
Recognition of Conspicuous Valor.'
Asked If he remembered what
King George said as he pinned this
decoration on him, he replied,
Rather. You see this was the out
standing day in my life. Tis majes-
tvs greeting was, I am glad to
meet you. I am proud of you. I
hope you live long to wear this deco
ration, which is a symbol Of your
bravery and devotion to duty"
Shortly before he was awarded the
Kings Medal. the Sheffield Society
OF England presented him a silver
medal. 1t bears his name and the
inscription, For Recognition of
Bravery" 1t was at this time that
he was presented the citation by
grateful fellow citizens of the IA
nous manufacturing town OF
Sheffield.
Honored by Townsmen.
This says in part. For your
bravery while protecting Sheffield
as a policeman in bringing a muir
derously savage culprit at bay. we
desire to record our appreciation of
you as a man and police officer.
Your conduct reflects credit on the
force to which you belong. There
fore we ask you to accept this IL
Illuminated address and bedroom
suite, and your good wife this purse /
of gold, as a slight appreciation of
your valorous conduct" 1t is signed |
by the chief constable of Sheffield |
and the secretary of the treasury |
for the citizens of the town.
Mr. McGraths third medal is
bronze. 1t is the award of the ST. |
Johns Ambulance Corps for life !
saving His speedy and skillful |
administration of a tourniquet |
saved the life of a man who was
stabbed by an assassin. Mr.. Nc |
Grath got the assassin, too, immedi- |
ately after he applied the tourniquet.
But he Is prouder in this instance |
Of having saved the life of an inno-
cent victim than he is of bringing |
the criminal to justice.
Nor has the deadly punch and skill |
of those days when he was winning |
medals and awards deserted him by |
any manner of means. Less than |
two years ago, during night watch |
in front of the hotel, he chased a
criminal and, after catching up with /
him and knocking him down at
Twelfth and E streets NV, he de- !
livered him into the hands of the
police.
Came Here to Join Brother.
A graduate of England's intensive !
six-month training course for po- /
licemen, he came to this city. with |
his wife, two sons and daughter, at
the end of World War I, chiefly
because his brother, Thomas Nc
Grath, was a lieutenant on Wash
ington's police force.
He has been continuously in the |
employ of the Raleigh as doorman
since December %, 1922.
Il wanted to be a partner with !
America in appreciation Of all the
comforts and benefits my family |
we're enjoying here" is the reason |
he gives for having become citizen !
Of the United States, devoted as he
is to the land of his birth. Among
his treasures are letters and post
cards which have reached him from
relatives and friends in Sheffield
even after the worst of the bombing
raids of the present war.
Since the death of his wife eight |
years ago Mr. McGrath has made
his home at 2414 Washington boule-
ward. Clarendon, Va, with his
daughter and son-in-law, Mrs. and
Mr.. Mat Winlund, and their sons,
Donald, II, and James, 10 Two
other sons, Thomas and William, |
are residents of Washington. The
two grandSonS share many of his
leisure activities. They are his chief
helpers in a flower garden, one of
the show places of its vicinity.
Likes His Job.
Vigorous and ruddy-cheeked by
exposure to wind and weather. he
likes his job of ushering people in
and out of the hotel and the con-
facts it gives him with them.
1t has made him something of a
philosopher, too. Ladies and gen.
tlemen," he observed. are always
the same. no matter how they are
dressed or under what circumstances
you come in touch with them.
Somehow they never forget to be