| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Waranga Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Education Department |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 21 |
| Next of kin | Father, Wm F McNamara, 'Moondyne', Royal Parade, Caulfield, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served in the 46th and 47th Infantry; posted to the Australian Flying Corps, Citizen Military Forces. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on enlistment | Lieutenant |
| Unit name | Australian Flying Corps, No 1 Squadron, C Flight |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 8/4/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A67 Orsova on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Captain |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | Australian Flying Corps |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
Victoria Cross 'For most conspicuous bravey and devotion to duty during an aerrial bomb attack upon a hostile constuction train, when one of our pilots was forced to land behind the enemy's lines. Lieutenant McNamara, obserrving this pilot's predicament and the fact that hostile calvalry were approaching, descended to his rescue. He did this under heavy rifle fire and in spite of the fact that he himself had been severely wounded in the thigh. He landed about 200 yards from the damaged machine, the pilot of which climbed on to Lieutenant McNamara's machine, and an attempt was made to rise. Owing, howeverr, to his disabled leg, Lieutenant McNamara was unable to keep his machine straight, and it turned over. The two officerrs, having exticated themselves, immediately set fire to the machine and made their way across to the damaged machine, which they succeeded in starting. Finally Lieutenant McNamara, although weak from loss of blood, flew this machine back to the aerodrrome, a distance of seventy miles, and thus completed his comrade's rrescue.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169 Date: |
| Discharge date | |
| Other details |
Embarked Melbourne, 16 March 1916; disembarked Suez, 14 April 1916. Embarked for England for training, 28 April 1916. Joined 42nd Division Base Depot, Mustapha, Egypt, from Malta, 25 August 1916; reported to Australian Flying Corps, Heliopolis, 28 August 1916. Admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 8 September 1916 (orchitis); discharged to duty from 14th Australian General Hospital, 6 October 1916, and rejoined 67th Squadron, Kantata. Attached to 22nd Reserve Squadron; rejoined 67th Squadron, Kantara. Wounded in action, 20 March 1917, and admitted to 24th Stationary Hospital (gun shot wound, right thigh: accident severe). (Whilst in the air one of his explosive shells which he was dropping on the Turks exploded prematurely and smashed through the bottom of his aeroplane causing a wound in the thigh. Considered wounded in action.) Transferred to 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia. Promoted Captain and Flight Commander, 71st Squadron, AFC. Transferred to Australia for 4 months' leave; commenced return on board HT 'Boorara', 23 August 1917; disembarked Melbourne, 27 September 1917. Awarded the Victoria Cross. Medals: Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal Appointed terminated, 31 January 1918. Apointed to Central Flying School from 1 February 1918. |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
