He was 30 years old, and a corporal in the 9th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 3 September 1918 north west of Lens, France, when operating a telephone in evacuated enemy trenches occupied by his battalion, Corporal McNamara realised that a determined enemy counter-attack was gaining ground.

Rushing to the nearest post, he made very good use of a revolver taken from a wounded officer and then, seizing a Lewis gun, he fired it until it jammed.

[2] In 2018, a plaque was unveiled in the John McNamara Gardens in the centre of Bamber Bridge, less than half a mile from where he was born.

Three generations of his family, politicians, soldiers and priests stood in tribute to McNamara, 100 years after the courageous act which earned him the only Victoria Cross awarded to a aresident of South Ribble.