The AIF Project

Frank Hubert McNAMARA

Date of birth4 April 1894
Place of birthWaranga Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationEducation Department
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Next of kinFather, Wm F McNamara, 'Moondyne', Royal Parade, Caulfield, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in the 46th and 47th Infantry; posted to the Australian Flying Corps, Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date6 January 1916
Rank on enlistmentLieutenant
Unit nameAustralian Flying Corps, No 1 Squadron, C Flight
AWM Embarkation Roll number8/4/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A67 Orsova on 16 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollCaptain
Unit from Nominal RollAustralian Flying Corps
FateReturned to Australia 23 August 1917
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: 4 October 1917

Discharge date31 December 1919
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.


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