John McNamara

Alone in a trench he held off a fierce German counterattack.

John McNamara VC was a Lancashire mill worker and British Army signaller whose quick decisions helped save exposed infantry posts near Lens, France. On 3 September 1918, the corporal left his telephone duties to meet a German counterattack with a revolver and Lewis gun, earning the Victoria Cross.

Born at Walton-le-Dale on 28 October 1887, McNamara grew up around Bamber Bridge. After losing his mother in childhood, he was raised by relatives and attended St Mary's Roman Catholic School. He worked in a cotton mill and married Mary Ann Atkinson in 1912. He enlisted in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, qualified as a signaller and served with its 10th Battalion before transferring to the 9th East Surreys in 1918.

His battalion occupied trenches recently abandoned by the enemy when a determined German attack threatened to recover them. McNamara ran to a nearby post and fired a revolver taken from a wounded officer. He then used a Lewis gun until it jammed. With the other defenders gone, he destroyed his telephone before withdrawing to another post, where he kept a second Lewis gun firing until reinforcements arrived. His initiative gave the neighbouring posts a chance to hold their ground.

McNamara remained with the battalion during the Allied advance but was killed at Haussy, near Solesmes, on 16 October 1918, aged 30. He never learned that his VC had been approved. He is buried in Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension. King George V presented the decoration to his widow at Buckingham Palace on 27 February 1920. His family later entrusted his medals and memorial plaque to the regimental collection.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous bravery, initiative and devotion to duty. When operating a telephone in evacuated enemy trenches occupied by his battalion, Corporal McNamara realised that a determined enemy counter-attack was gaining ground. Rushing to join the nearest post, he made the most effective use of a revolver taken from a wounded officer. Then seizing a Lewis gun, continued to fire it till it jammed. By this time he was alone in the post.

Having destroyed his telephone he joined the nearest post and again displayed great courage and initiative in maintaining Lewis-gun fire until reinforcements arrived.

It was undoubtedly due to the magnificent courage and determination of Private McNamara that the other posts were enabled to hold on and his fine example of devotion to duty is worthy of the highest praise.