Studio portrait of 144 Sergeant Sylvester McNamara MM, 1st Australia Field Artillery from Hobart, ...

Studio portrait of 144 Sergeant Sylvester McNamara MM, 1st Australia Field Artillery from Hobart, Tasmania. A 21 year old driver prior to enlisting on 23 August 1914, he embarked for overseas service as a private with the 1st Battery from Sydney aboard HMAT Argyllshire (A8) on 18 October 1914. He was awarded a Military Medal (MM) for his service at Gallipoli where he showed coolness and steadiness though several shells burst quite close to the gun in his charge at Cape Helles on 30 May 1915. He continued to serve as a gunner until severely wounded and evacuated to Alexandria, Egypt for medical treatment. After returning to Gallipoli on 26 August, he continued to serve until the evacuation in December. He proceeded to France as a temporary corporal with the 22nd Battery in March 1916 and transferred to the 21st Field Artillery Brigade. After being promoted to sergeant on 28 June 1916, he reverted to the rank of corporal on 6 August 1917 at his own request. He arrived back in Australia on 5 July 1918 and was discharged medically unfit for further service.