On 3 Sep 1918 John McNamara was operating a telephone in evacuated German trenches northwest of Lens. The 9th Battalion East Surreys occupied these trenches but faced a determined counter-attack. He rushed to his post and picked up a revolver from a wounded officer. Having emptied it at the attacking enemy, he then used a Lewis gun until it jammed. By this time he was alone at the post so he destroyed the telephone and joined men at another post, using the Lewis gun until they were reinforced.
Corporal John McNamara was born in Walton-le-Dale, Preston in Lancashire, on 28 Oct 1887. He was killed a few weeks after this action at Solesmes on 16 Oct 1918, and buried at Romeries Cemetery in France. His widow received his medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 27 Feb 1920.
