Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

AWM short biography

Private Kenneth Norman McNamee (4258, 14th Battalion) was born in Ballarat, Victoria. He was working as a printer with “The Sporting World” and not yet 16 years old when he enlisted in July 1915. Kenneth was awarded a Military Medal for his “daring and coolness” while running messages and maintaining communication between Company and Battalion headquarters during the battle of Mouquet Farm in August 1916. Kenneth was wounded on 11 April 1917 during the battle of Bullecourt and was last seen being bandaged by two German Red Cross men. This was reported after the war by a fellow prisoner of war, who said that Kenneth had been badly wounded by a bullet just above his heart and was unlikely to live long. Kenneth is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France. He was 17 years 9 months of age.

Military Medal recommendation (awarded)

'As Company runner during period this Battalion was in the trenches between 26th and 29th August, 1916, he kept communication between Copany and Battalion Headquarters, especially during our attack on enemy strong points, when enemy retaliation shell fire was on our communication Saps. He obtained the admiration of all ranks for his daring and coolness. At MOUQUET FARM on 27th and 28th August, 1916.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

BALLARAT'S BOY SOLDIER

When Ken McNamee was awarded the Military Medal, the words “Boy Soldier Congratulated for Gallantry” were proudly trumpeted in the Melbourne Herald newspaper. He was a remarkable young lad in so many ways and, after discovering his photograph, it is deeply satisfying to finally be able to tell his story…

Born at Ballarat East on 1 July 1899, Kenneth Norman McNamee was the third son of William McNamee and Catherine “Kate” Bailey. Like many local families, the McNamees had strong Celtic ancestry. Descended from the famous Irish clan (MacNamee, with the nicknamed shortened form of McNamee), the name originally derived from the Old Gaelic 'Mac Con Midhe', which loosely translates to 'The son of the hound of Meath'. Whilst Kate’s mother (Ken’s maternal grandmother), Flora McKenzie, was a true Scottish Highlander, haling from Portree on the Isle of Skye.

The family, which eventually numbered nine children, lived at 204 George Street, on the corner of Skipton Street, in the Ballarat suburb of Redan. William McNamee laboured long and hard in the district gold mines to maintain his extended brood.

When he was of school age, Ken began his education at the Redan State School. At the beginning of Term I in January 1908, Ken was transferred to Urquhart Street State School. He was at Urquhart Street from Grade II until he graduated in Term III in 1913.

The founder of well-known Ballarat business, Berry & Anderson, and one-time registrar of the Ballarat School of Mines, Andrew Burgess Berry, had by this time also established a profitable specialised newspaper known as “The Sporting World”. It was at this newspaper that Ken McNamee would be employed as a printer after leaving school in 1913.

The advent of war in August 1914 set the whole of the country awhirl with feverish activity and nationalistic fervour. However, for the McNamee family, the year was to end on a very sad note with the death of the second eldest daughter, Alice Maud, on 2 December.
By this time, it seems that young Ken was already hankering to join the “grand adventure”, especially as it had become apparent that the war was not going to be over by Christmas, as had been anticipated by so many overly-eager optimists!

The trouble was Ken McNamee was underage – well underage.

When he enlisted at Ballarat on 8 July 1915, Ken stated that he was 18 years and 6 months of age. He was, in fact, just barely 16 – although his family later stated that he was just 15 at the time. Because he had his mother’s permission, the military authorities don’t appear to have questioned his age.

He declared that he had served four years in the Senior Cadets of the 71st Infantry Regiment, gave his correct address – naming his father as his next-of-kin – and, more importantly, passed the physical requirements of the AIF. His medical examination was conducted on 10 July. The medical officer described Ken as being 5-feet 4-inches tall, weighing 9-stone 8-pounds and having a chest expansion of 33½-inches. It was noted that he had ‘good physical development.’

Looking at the obvious youth of Ken’s face, it seems almost incomprehensible that the recruitment officer believed the boy was 18. When he presented his mother’s consent on 16 July, her words were all that the authorities required.

‘…I hereby state that I am quite willing to let my son serve in the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Forces…’ His oath to serve King and country were taken and subscribed the very same day.

Ken spent the next five months training at various camps in Australia, including Ascot Vale, Ballarat, Williamstown and Broadmeadows. He was assigned to the 13th reinforcements allotted to the 14th Infantry Battalion whilst he was in camp at Williamstown on 25 November. He also received four vaccinations in preparation for his overseas service.

On 28 December, the 13/14th Battalion men marched out of Broadmeadows Camp and made their way to the wharves at Port Melbourne. The following day they boarded the troopship Demosthenes and embarked for Egypt.

During the voyage, Ken managed to get himself into trouble. On 17 January 1916, he was charged with having being absent without leave – at sea! He was awarded a day of field punishment, and forfeited two days pay. It was to be the only blemish on his record.

A bout of ‘mild dental trouble’ landed Ken in hospital at Heliopolis on 15 February. It may well have been “mild”, but it still kept him in hospital for three weeks. He was finally taken on strength of the 14th Infantry Battalion at Serapeum on 2 April.

The 14th Battalion embarked for France on 1 June. The trip crossing the Mediterranean took seven days, before the Transylvania finally docked in Marseilles.

On 4 August, the 14th Battalion marched to Albert; they bivouacked the night at the Brickfields, a prominent feature on the outskirts of the town. Two days later, the men moved through to Pozieres via Tara Hill and Sausage Valley where they took over the trenches from the 26th and 28th Battalions. This was to be Ken McNamee’s first experience of full-scale battle.

The first action on the Western Front for the 14th Battalion lasted eight days – eight days of almost constant heavy bombardment by the enemy. By the time they came out of the line, 88 of their number had been killed.

The battalion arrived back in the sector on 27 August. This time they were to tackle Mouquet Farm – one of nine separate attacks by Australian brigades on the farm that dominated a ridge north-west of the ruins of the village of Pozieres.

As company runner during this period, Ken maintained communication between the company and Battalion Headquarters. For two solid days, but especially during an attack made by the 14th Battalion on enemy strong points around Mouquet Farm, when the enemy retaliation shellfire on the communication saps was at its fiercest, Ken kept up his dangerous work. He did this with such daring and coolness he gained the admiration of all ranks of his unit. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Moreland Dare was so impressed by the boy soldier’s bravery, he recommended Ken for the Military Medal on 30 August 1916.

Writing home to his father, Ken mentioned casually that he had been decorated by Major-General Sir Herbert Vaughan Cox in the field for his work as a runner a Mouquet Farm. His parents were naturally proud of the honour conferred upon him.

Given his youth, the interest generated by Ken’s bravery was destined to elicit interest around the country. The story was published in the Melbourne newspaper, The Herald, on 9 November 1916.

‘…BOY SOLDIER CONGRATULATED
FOR GALLANTRY AS RUNNER
BALLARAT, Thursday.
Having enlisted before he was 16,
Private Kenneth Norman McNamee,
at the age of 17, is the recipient of
official congratulations from Major
General Sir H. V. Cox. for his gallantry
as a runner, August 26 to 29, near
Mouquet Farm. Private McNamee is
the son of Mr and Mrs W. McNamee,
corner of George and Skipton streets.
He was employed by "The Sporting
World" when he enlisted. He has a
brother on active service, while
another enlisted, but was discharged
on account of illness…’

Increasingly aware of the danger her young son was in, Kate Bailey wrote a personal appeal to the Commander of the AIF, General William Birdwood, asking for Ken to be removed from the frontline. Sadly, the slowness of communication at that time meant her entreaty and Birdwood’s ability to react to the situation would all come too late for Ken McNamee.

The First Battle of Bullecourt began on 11 April 1917, with the 14th Battalion scheduled to attack the Hindenburg Line at Noreuil. By the end of the day, Ken was missing.

News of their son’s disappearance was finally received by William and Kate McNamee on 9 May. Their anxiety was only heightened by the continued lack of information as the days, weeks and months passed. Finally, General Birdwood responded to Kate’s letter – the contents of which were then published on the front page of the Melbourne Herald on Saturday 28 July.

GENERAL BIRDWOOD WRITES
OF YOUNG BALLARAT HERO
MISSING AFTER BULLECOURT
BALLARAT. Saturday.
Corporal K. N. McNamee, a winner
of the Military Medal, who enlisted be-
lore he was 16 years of age, was posted
as missing on April 11, after having
won his decoration.
His mother, who lives in Redan
street, Ballarat, had previously written
to Lieutenant-General Sir William
Birdwood asking that her son should be
19 years of age.
General Birdwood has replied expres-
sing regret that his orders that Cor
poral McNamee be transferred to the
base could not be carried out, as the
lad had been missed after the heavy
fighting at Bullecourt when running
between the captured trenches and his
headquarters. He was last seen making
his way through the enemy wires,
and was then unwounded.
General Birdwood adds: "We know
that a number of our men were taken
prisoner by Germans during this fighting,
but it will be some time before we
can receive official advice concerning
them."

The Red Cross Missing and Wounded Bureau also began making enquiries after receiving a letter from Kate McNamee, dated 12 August 1917.

‘…Just writing to see if you can give me any news of my boy No4258 Pte Kenneth Norman McNamee C Coy 14th Battalion. He has been missing since the 11 April and in a letter I received from Gen Birdwood he states that my boy was last seen making his way through the enemy wire entanglements to get back to the original line – he was a runner for that Comp & took part in the heavy fighting at Bullecourt on April 11th. So, I thought dear Sir this little bit of information would be something to work on he was only a lad not 18 till July & was decorated at Mouquet Farm for gallantry as a runner. I am hoping to hear good news …’

By October 1917, there had still been no word of Ken’s fate, and his parents sought the help of the Premier of Victoria, Sir Alexander Peacock, who was much loved and respected in the Ballarat district. He initiated contact with the Base Records Office, on behalf of the McNamees, ‘who were very anxious to know if any further report had been received.’

The response they from Base Records might almost appear callous, given the trauma the family was suffering,

‘…I regret to state no further information has been received concerning…since he was reported as “missing 11/4/17”. The Overseas Authorities are doing their utmost to trace missing members of the Force, and should any later information come to hand it will be promptly transmitted to next-of-kin…’

On 13 November 1917, a 14th Battalion Court of Enquiry was held at Predefin, where the finding was passed that Private Kenneth Norman McNamee, previously reported missing in action, was now to be reported Killed in Action on 11 April 1917. The finding was communicated to the family in early December. This was followed by a personal letter from Chaplain-Major Frank Rolland, the much-loved chaplain of the 14th Battalion,

‘…10 February 1918
At the Court of Enquiry held on 11/11/17 it was decided that there could be now no justifiable hope of his being alive. There is no word of him from Germany or from any of the dressing stations.

He was so young to give his life away for the world. Heaven must be full of boys today. If we knew all we might be glad. He is at least spared all the mud and strain and suffering of a prolonged war. He has attained an even better peace than we are fighting for.

It was perhaps one of the bravest actions of the war in which your son fell. Every man who took part played the game, and it must be a source of pride to you to know how your son was loved by his mates, and how he proved himself such a man, though only a boy, and was loyal to duty and to right even to the end…'

On 11 March 1918, Kate received the Military Medal that had been awarded to her young son. What should have been a joyously proud moment, must have been quite wretched for the young mother.

At the end of August, she received a letter from the military authorities, which explained ‘the action in which your son lost his life was very confused and indecisive and the ground over which it was fought was subjected to continuous shellfire under which the nature of its surface was constantly changing and we can only conclude that your son’s body was buried under the earth thrown up by the shell explosions…’

Private George Henry Millar of the 14th Battalion, who had been taken prisoner on 11 April 1917, had been the last Australian to see Ken McNamee alive. After he was repatriated, Millar gave the following first-hand witness statement to the Red Cross:

‘The last I saw of him was when I helped to bandage him up. He was very badly wounded, bullet wound just above the heart. I was not allowed to stay with him. Two German Red Cross men were with him. He knew he could not last long…’

This letter was communicated to the McNamee family.

Despite this, Kate McNamee refused to give up hope. On 21 March 1919, she wrote to Base Records saying,

‘…I have been advised to write to HQ St Kilda Road asking you to make enquiries of returning men regarding my missing son (only 17yrs at Bullecourt 11 April 1917) Pte K. N. McNamee MM runner No4258 C Comp 14 Batt…’

Base Records replied almost immediately, ‘…advise you that no information has been received here relative to your son…subsequent to the report furnished by the Court of Enquiry, which sat to determine his fate and found that he was killed in action…this Court would carefully sift all available evidence before coming to its decision and it is regretted that there is no apparent reason to doubt the accuracy of the information you have received…’

When completing a request for information form that was issued by Base Records in July 1921, Kate continued to plead for her son.

‘…I am enclosing to (sic) letters concerning my son, Kenneth, that is all I have ever heard. I think he must be in Germany in some of the camps, or do you think it probable he would be in any of the asylums…if I only knew anything definite, but this suspense is awfully (sic); he was only 17 & ½ yrs of age & runner for CC 14th Batt; had been decorated by Gen Coy for his gallantry. I have written to every source & can not get any satisfaction & not one thing belonging to him has been returned…’

The reply from Base Records must have dashed all hope,

‘…I cannot encourage you to hope that your son is yet alive. There seems no room to doubt that he lost his life on 11/4/17 and most probably the result of the wounds which his comrade describes in his letter to you. The communications forwarded by you have been carefully examined with a view to assisting the Australian Graves Services in their efforts to locate the final resting place of the late soldier. The IWGC has sanctioned a continuance of the search and in the event of a more favourable report forthcoming you will be at once advised. No personal effects of your son have been received here and in view of the lapse of time since the report of his death it is considered improbable that any articles will now be received in his name…’

The service medals, Memorial Plaque and Scroll due to Ken McNamee were eventually received by his mother. Her claim for a pension, however, was rejected.

Kate McNamee died at Ballarat on 21 February 1924; she was just 56 years old.

Footnote: For those with a fascination for the synchronicity in genealogy, there appears to be a distinct connection between my last two posts – the McKenzie brothers from Buninyong, and young Ken McNamee. John McKenzie, father of Don, Rell and Norm, and Flora McKenzie, Ken’s maternal grandmother, both came from the Isle of Skye. The two families settled in areas a little over 17 miles apart, southwest of Ballarat.