3120 Lance-Corporal Christopher “Christy” James McNamara - Lakes Entrance Killed in Action 19 July 1916

….. drank lemon squash at the top of the Pyramid

Christy, as he was known to his family, was the first of two brothers to enlist and die, from the McNamara family at Lakes Entrance. His brother William would be killed in action in October 1917. Christy was born in Lakes Entrance in 1888 to John and Ellen McNamara. After attending school at Lakes Entrance he enlisted on 26 July 1915. He was 27 years of age and was farewelled with an official function with fellow recruits Alex Innes and George Henning. They left Australia in September with the 8 th  Battalion and in December he wrote to his mother of the great adventure he was having commenting that a burial in the midst of the ocean is one of the saddest sights I have yet seen and how once they arrived in Egypt it was soldiering here, and reminded us that it was only play at Broadmeadows. With his mates Innis and Henning, he climbed to the top of the Pyramid which took us a considerable time to climb. When we reached the top we were satisfied to sit and have a spell. We had a drink of lemon squash, carved our names on one of the stones, and made our way down again. With hundreds of others they were transferred to Marseilles and the front in Europe. In February Christy transferred to the 59 th  Battalion and in May he was appointed Lance- Corporal. On 19 July he went over in our advance on the German trenches and never reported back. As practically none of our fellows reached the enemy lines the only inference is that he was killed and his body never brought in as happened to so many others that day.

Christy on the right with an unidentified mate taken at Broadmeadows before departing Australia. Both images from the AWM DA10873 and DA10880.