Ernest Thom McCartney was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, the son of Robert McCartney, a chemist, and his wife, Kathleen, née Thom. He was educated at Coleraine Institute and Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied medicine. He went on to training posts at Victoria Central Hospital, Wallasey, St George's Hospital and the Hammersmith Hospital and ended his career as consultant surgeon at the Airedale Hospital in Keighley, Yorkshire. From 1939 to 1945 he served in the RAMC reaching the rank of Major and winning the MC. He married Norah Jewell in 1939 and they had two sons, Michael and Peter before she died in 1946. He married Barbara Clayton (née Dove) in 1950. Of his many hobbies he most enjoyed golf, carpentry and stamp collecting. He died on 14 January 1986 survived by his wife, sons and grandchildren, Graham, Janet, Gareth and Kerry.