Thomas Frederick McNamara

McNAMARA, Thomas Frederick- – – SPC ?

DoB:- – 20 January 1889, Ballarat, VIC

Father:- – Michael McNamara, wool dyer

Mother:- – Sarah Elizabeth, nee Simcox

Service No:- –

Rank:- – Sergeant, later Lieutenant

Unit:- – 60th Battalion

Thomas Frederick McNamara enlisted on 1 September 1915. He was 26 years and six months old, five feet, 11 inches tall, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His occupation was railway clerk and he was unmarried.

After enlisting, Tom attended Officer Training School at Broadmeadows. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 12 May 1916. He embarked from Melbourne aboard the Medic on 16 December 1916, arriving in England in mid-February 1917.

On 11 May Sergeant McNamara proceeded with his unit overseas to France. In July he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was severely wounded in action in France on 28 September 1917, sustaining gunshot wounds to his back and chest. After being admitted to and transferred between various Casualty Clearing Stations, he was sent to England and admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital on 31 December.

His medical report stated that he was medically unfit for service and he was prepared for return to Australia on 16 March 1918 for a -‘change’. He embarked on board the Wondilla, and was struck off strength.

Back in Australia, Tom continued his career working for the railways. In 1923 he married Eileen Margaret Bult in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray. Tom was the Assistant Stationmaster at Sunshine, and by 1931 was living with Eileen in Moonee Ponds where they remained until Eileen’s death. Tom and Eileen had two children, a boy and a girl.

Tom died on 21 May 1970 at the age of 81, after having suffered coronary sclerosis and congestive cardiac failure for many years. One could assume that the war wounds to his chest contributed to this health issue for most of his life.

Tom was buried at the New Cheltenham Cemetery.