Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick MacNamara SX7417
Frederick’s family initially lived in Kingston, on the shores of Lacepede Bay in the South East of SA. His parents Patrick Joseph and Catherine Louise MacNamara had two children, a daughter, Phyllis and son, Frederick, born on the 13th September, 1913.
Frederick attended the local school and was a useful football player for South Gambier and Naracoorte, playing in the Mt Gambier league. His family later moved to St Peter’s, a suburb of Adelaide. With the outbreak of WWII, aged 26, Fred enlisted on July 1st 1940 and became inseparable friends with Lionel Van Den Brink, SX7279 who had enlisted at a similar time.
By July they was ensconced at Wayville, where he was allocated the number SX7417 and both were soon assigned to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before Fred and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training.
Following pre-embarkation leave at the end of October Fred and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. His 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica, which was not without incident. John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, relayed the incident where “The journey to take up garrison duty in the Western Desert started well. Real carriages had been provided, and although conditions were somewhat crowded, with rifles, packs and blankets, the troops were happy to be on the move again. The only incident of note in the entraining came when Private MacNamara became jammed in the doorway of the carriage allotted to 10 platoon, with the result that most of the platoon had to climb in through the windows, and Mac had to be almost undressed in order to clear the entrance… The long slow progress across this fertile plain was made in a terrific sandstorm, with the fine powder seeping in through the doors and windows and coating everything inside the carriages. This was the battalion’s first of many experiences of the khamsin.”
From there the group went on to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the continuing dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees.
Frederick and Lionel continued to be the closest of friends but in horrific conditions both were killed together in action on the 17th April, 1941. Frederick was 27 years old. John Glenn, in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described the conditions experienced while Frederick and Lionel’s B Company was in the midst of a ferocious fight to retain Hill 209. It was subjected to ‘intense mortar, machine gun and artillery fire, necessitation the evacuation of the observation post and forcing B Company to keep under cover. ‘All through this attack B Company was subjected to accurate mortar fire. Privates L.H. Van den Brink and F. McNamara were killed instantly when a mortar bomb made a direct hit.’ Frederick Lionel was buried in the Tobruk War Cemetery, Grave 3 Row K with fellow 2/48th Battalion men, his close friend Lionel Van Den Brink SX7279, Colin Tucker, SX8578, George Havers SX7882, Edward Hextall SX8285 and Alan Riebe SX9241. The inscription on Frederick’s grave now reads ‘Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept.’
Both the Chronicle and News published the list of infantry men killed. All were from the 2/48th Battalion. Pte. George Dickinson, SX7649, Peterborough; Pte. Wally Dunn, SX6958, place not given; Pte. Edward Hextall, SX8285, Auburn; Pte. Frederick MacNamara, SX7418, Kingston; Pte. Alan Riebe, SX9241, Waikerie; Pte. Colin. Tucker, SX8578, Redfern; Pte. Lionel Van Den. Brink, SX7279, Richmond. The Mail published the sad news of his death in May and formally announced that ‘Mr. P. J. Macnamara, of Fifth avenue. St. Peters, has been officially advised that his son, Pte. F. Macnamara. who was serving overseas has been killed in action.’ His country town of Kingston, also remembered Frederick, publishing news of his death in the local ‘Border Watch’.
Locally, Frederick is commemorated in his home town of St Peters on their Roll of Honour
The MacNamara and Van Den Brink family were united in their grief with each placing a memorial to the other family’s lost son on the anniversary of their deaths. These two, known to their fellow soldiers as ‘Maccy’ and ‘Vandy’ also continued to be remembered by their friends in the 2/48th Battalion. In a sad twist, John Miller, SX7343 was killed the following year on the 22nd July 1942. He and Lieutenant Wally Pryor SX7338 both remembered Maccy and Vandy on the anniversary of their deaths. Similarly, Sergeant Ron Bristow, SX7094 each year continued to remember those young men who had served with him and whose lives were so cruelly cut short.
Advertiser Friday 2 May 1941, MACNAMARA. —On the l8th of April, killed in action. Private Frederick, 2nd A.I.F. late of Kingston, only son of Mr and Mrs. P. J. MacNamara. 33 Fifth avenue. St. Peters. MACNAMARA. —On the 18th of April. killed in action. Private Frederick. 2nd A.I.F. loving brother of Phyllis Glastonbury. and brother in-law of Fred. Fifth avenue. St. Peters
Advertiser Friday 17 April 1942, MacNAMARA. —In loving memory of our only son, Frederick 2nd/48th. killed in action at Tobruk on April 17, 1941. —Inserted by his loving parents. MacNAMARA In memory of Pte F. MacNamara, who was killed in action at Tobruk, April 17. 1941. His duty nobly done. —inserted by his loving friends Mrs. H. Van Den Brink and family. MacNAMARA—VAN DEN BRINK. —In memory of our pals. Maccy and Vandy, killed in action at Tobruk, on April 17 1941. —Always remembered by their pals, Wally Pryor and Johnnie Miller. A.I.F. abroad.
Advertiser Tuesday 20 April 1943, MacNAMARA. — In loving memory of Freddie, killed at Tobruk, April 17, 1941. A true pal of our son, Lionel. Always in our thoughts. —Mr. and Mrs. Van Den Brink and family.
Advertiser Saturday 17 April 1943, MacNAMARA. —In loving memory of our only son. Freddie, killed in action. Tobruk. April 17. 1941 Deep In our hearts a memory is kept. —inserted by his mother and father. MacNAMARA.—In loving memory of our brother. Freddie, killed in action at Tobruk. April 17. 1941.—Inserted by Phyllis and Fred Glastonbury. MacNAMARA—VAN DEN BRINK—In memory of two pals, killed in action April 17. 1941, fighting for King and country Time passes, but memory clings —Inserted by their pal, Wally Pryor returned
Advertiser Tuesday 18 April 1944, MACNAMARA. —Loving memory of Freddie, who made the supreme sacrifice with our son Lionel, at Tobruk, April 17, 1941. Always in our thoughts. —Inserted by Mr. and Mrs. Van-Den-Brink and family.
Advertiser Tuesday 17 April 1945, MacNAMARA. —In sad and loving memory of our only son, Freddie, killed in action at Tobruk. April 17. 1941. Deep in our hearts a memory is kept. —inserted by his loving parents. MacNAMARA.—In Loving memory of Freddie killed in action. Tobruk, April 17. 1341.—Always remembered by Van Den Brink family. MacNAMARA. —In loving memory of our only brother. Freddie, killed in action at Tobruk, April 17. 1941.—Inserted by Phyllis and Fred Glastonbury.
Advertiser Wednesday 17 April 1946, MacNAMARA. —In loving memory of Freddie, killed in action, Tobruk, 1941. —Ever remembered by Mr. and Mrs. Van Den Brink and family MacNAMARA. —In loving memory of our only son, Fred, killed in action at Tobruk, April 17, 1941. Deep in our hearts a memory is kept. —Inserted by his parents. MacNAMARA. —In loving memory of our only brother, Freddy, killed in action at Tobruk, April 17, 1941. —Inserted by Phyllis and Fred Glastonbury.
Advertiser Thursday 17 April 1947, MACNAMARA. — In loving memory of Freddy, killed at Tobruk. April 17. 1941. Brother of Phyllis. — Inserted by Phyllis and Fred Glastonbury. MACNAMARA. — In sad and loving memory of our only son Freddy. 2 /48th Bat., killed in action at Tobruk. April 17, 1941. Deep in our hearts a memory is kept. — Inserted by his parents. MACNAMARA. — Memory of Freddie, killed. Tobruk. April 17. 1941. — Ever re-membered by Mr. and Mrs. Van Den Brink and family.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.