SIDNEY ROBERT McNAMARA
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG”: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Born: 6th September 1920, Ipswich.
Died: 9th June 1940; age 19; on board H.M.S. ‘Glorious.’
Residence: 63, Cowper Street, Ipswich.
Rank: Pilot Officer; Service Number: 41599.
Regiment: Royal Air Force, 263 Squadron.
Medals Awarded: Distinguished Flying Cross. Gazetted on the 10th May 1940. Aircraft: Gloster Gladiator
Credited with 1 biplane victory.
Evening Star – 9th May 1940
D.F.C. FOR YOUNG IPSWICH MAN
Shot Down Heinkel Bomber in Norway
A young Ipswich man is among those decorated for gallantry during the air operations in Norway. He was a member with a squadron which brought down fourteen Nazi warplanes in one day during the operations at Aandalsnes. He is Pilot-Officer Sidney Robert McNamara, son of Mr. S. McNamara, and he led a successful attack on an enemy Heinkel bomber and showed great determination and courage after landing. He displayed bravery during a bombing attack by taking off again under machine-gun fire. Age 19 1/2, he obtained his commission in January of last year. An old boy of Ipswich School and Northgate School, he is well known in yachting circles at Bawdsey Ferry and played rugby for Northgate School.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 9.
Englefield Green,
Surrey.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Sidney Arthur William & Ellen McNamara, of Ipswich.
Father: Sidney Arthur William McNamara, born January 1886, 199, Seymour Street, Somers Town, London. A Company Manager & Director – Coach Building & Motor Engineering. During the Second World War, Sidney was a member of the Special Constabulary.
Mother: Ellen Alice McNamara (nee Griffiths), born November 1890, Brighton, East Sussex.
CENSUS
1921 9, Jefferies Road, Ipswich.
Sidney was 9 months old and lived with his parents and sister. His maternal aunt and maternal cousins were visitors.
Sidney McNamara, 35 years & 5 months old, a Motor Car Trimming and Hood Manufacturer – employer, of Bridle Way Works, Ipswich.
Ellen McNamara, 30 years & 7 months old, Home Duties.
Bessie Florence Griffiths, 24 years & 9 months old, a Shop Assistant for Messrs. Henry Hayle Ellerton – Provision Merchant, of 1, York Place, Brighton, East Sussex, born Brighton.
Bessie’s daughter – Margaret Winifred Griffiths, 3 years & 10 months, born Brighton.
Dorothy Lilian Wickham, 21 years & 9 months, a Shop Assistant for Messrs. Smith and Brown Ltd. – Gent’s and Boys’ Outfitters, of 20, Trafalgar Street, Brighton, born Brighton.
1 female general domestic servant.
Sidney was educated at Ipswich School and Northgate School.
Sidney is also remembered on the Ipswich School Chapel war memorial.
Photograph courtesy of Gary Martin, GLARAC photo archivist & website manager http://glarac.co.uk/node/951
8th June 1940 H.M.S. ‘Glorious’
H.M.S. ‘Glorious’ was a battlecruiser of the Courageous class built for the Royal Navy by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland, as part of Admiral Fisher’s Baltic Project. Ordered 14th March 1915 and completed on the 31st December 1916 – Commissioned January 1917.
In February 1924, H.M.S. ‘Glorious’ was sent to be converted into an aircraft carrier.
On the 8th June 1940, H.M.S. ‘Glorious’ and her two escorting sister ships, H.M.S. ‘Acasta’ and H.M.S. ‘Ardent’, were taking part in Operation Alphabet – the evacuation of Allied forces from Norway that had been taking place simultaneously with the rather better known and remembered evacuation at Dunkirk. On the way through the Norwegian Sea at about 15:46 hrs, the funnel smoke from H.M.S. ‘ Glorious’ and her escort ships was spotted by the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. H.M.S. ‘Glorious’ had no lookouts posted in the crow’s nest, no aircraft on patrol and no aircraft ready on the deck for a quick take-off. H.M.S. ‘Acasta’ and H.M.S. ‘Ardent’ attempted to lay a smoke screen. H.M.S. ‘Glorious’ was hit by Scharnhorst in her forward flight deck and burst in the upper hangar, starting a large fire and preventing any other aircraft from taking off. At 16:58hrs, a second shell hit the homing beacon above the bridge and killed or wounded the personnel stationed there, including Captain Guy D’Oyly-Hughes. H.M.S. ‘Glorious’ was hit again in the centre engine room at 17:20hrs, and this caused her to lose speed. The German ships closed in and continued to fire. H.M.S. ‘Glorious’ was soon overcome and was sunk. at 18:10hrs.
The same fate then happened to H.M.S. ‘Ardent’. H.M.S. ‘Acasta’ attacked with torpedoes, and hit the engine room of Scharnhorst in a last attack before she sank, blazing beneath the waves at 18.20hrs. The damage caused by H.M.S. ‘Acasta’ torpedoes to Scharnhorst caused the enemy ships to abandon their sortie to the north and return to port. The Germans didn’t wait to pick up any survivors. 1531 Officers and men lost their lives.
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