Canada. A Memorial Cross to Private McNamara, 85th Infantry Battalion, KIA Neuville St. Vasst, 1918
Canada; George V (877576 Pte. J.P. McNAMARA). Sterling silver, marked "STERLING" and hallmarked "R" on the reverse, on a replacement bow-tied ribbon, contact marks and surface wear, very fine.
Footnote: Joseph Patrick McNamara was born on April 28, 1887 in Lower River Inhabitants, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the son of Michael Benjamin McNamara and Catherine McNamara of Lower River Inhabitants, which is east of Port Hawkesbury (the latter also acknowledged as Catherine Delaney of Antigonish, Nova Scotia). He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (877576) with the 185th Infantry Battalion "Cape Breton Highlanders", on March 21, 1916 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, at the age of 28, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Michael (Catherine) McNamara of Lower River Inhabitants, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Student (later acknowledged in his records as Labourer). The 185th Infantry Battalion was raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia under the authority of G.O. 69, July 15, 1916 and had its mobilization headquarters at Broughton, Cape Breton. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 12, 1916 aboard the S.S. Olympic, under the command of Lieutenant F.P. Day, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 18th. After three and a half months training in England, Private McNamara was struck off strength of the 185th Infantry Battalion and transferred to the 85th Infantry Battalion for overseas service, arriving in France on March 1, 1918. He left for his new unit in the field on March 3rd, arriving with them on the 4th. Six and a half weeks after joining the 85th Infantry Battalion, 877576 Private Joseph Patrick McNamara was Killed in Action while in the wet trenches near Neuville St. Vasst, succumbing to gun shot (shrapnel) wounds to his body and legs (as noted in the War Diary for the 85th Infantry Battalion), on April 29, 1918, the day after his 31st birthday. His memorial photo in the book, "Catholics of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia and the Great War 1914-1919" states that he was killed at Vimy Ridge. He is buried in Roclincourt Military Cemetery, Roclincourt, Pas de Calais, France, Grave Reference: VI. C. 21. (a village just to the east of the road from Arras to Lens) and is commemorated on page 464 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. For his First World War service, Private McNamara was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, which were forwarded to his mother, Catherine McNamara, along with Memorial Cross. His father, Michael McNamara received his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. In his Will, dated November 27, 1916, he bequeathed all his personal estate to his mother, Catherine. Images not included.
Footnote: Joseph Patrick McNamara was born on April 28, 1887 in Lower River Inhabitants, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the son of Michael Benjamin McNamara and Catherine McNamara of Lower River Inhabitants, which is east of Port Hawkesbury (the latter also acknowledged as Catherine Delaney of Antigonish, Nova Scotia). He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (877576) with the 185th Infantry Battalion "Cape Breton Highlanders", on March 21, 1916 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, at the age of 28, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Michael (Catherine) McNamara of Lower River Inhabitants, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Student (later acknowledged in his records as Labourer). The 185th Infantry Battalion was raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia under the authority of G.O. 69, July 15, 1916 and had its mobilization headquarters at Broughton, Cape Breton. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 12, 1916 aboard the S.S. Olympic, under the command of Lieutenant F.P. Day, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 18th. After three and a half months training in England, Private McNamara was struck off strength of the 185th Infantry Battalion and transferred to the 85th Infantry Battalion for overseas service, arriving in France on March 1, 1918. He left for his new unit in the field on March 3rd, arriving with them on the 4th. Six and a half weeks after joining the 85th Infantry Battalion, 877576 Private Joseph Patrick McNamara was Killed in Action while in the wet trenches near Neuville St. Vasst, succumbing to gun shot (shrapnel) wounds to his body and legs (as noted in the War Diary for the 85th Infantry Battalion), on April 29, 1918, the day after his 31st birthday. His memorial photo in the book, "Catholics of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia and the Great War 1914-1919" states that he was killed at Vimy Ridge. He is buried in Roclincourt Military Cemetery, Roclincourt, Pas de Calais, France, Grave Reference: VI. C. 21. (a village just to the east of the road from Arras to Lens) and is commemorated on page 464 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. For his First World War service, Private McNamara was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, which were forwarded to his mother, Catherine McNamara, along with Memorial Cross. His father, Michael McNamara received his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. In his Will, dated November 27, 1916, he bequeathed all his personal estate to his mother, Catherine. Images not included.