William Daniel McNab

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McNAB, William Daniel

Service no: 1730 [1]

Place of birth: Borenore, 18 July 1895

Address: Allwood, Borenore, via Orange

Occupation: Farmer

Next of kin: James McNab (father), Allwood, Borenore, via Orange

Date of enlistment: 12 October 1916

Place of enlistment: Sydney

Age at enlistment: 21

Fate: Embarked HMAT Medic Sydney 12 December 1916. Transferred to 4th Light Horse Regiment 24 February 1917. Hospitalised Suez 19 January 1917 suffering from mumps. Wounded in action 4 May 1918, suffering gun shot wounds to the legs. Rejoined regiment 30 August 1918. Promoted to Lance Corporal 11 November 1918. Returned to Australia 28 July 1919.

Date of death: 9 June 1989, Hurlstone Park


William Daniel McNab was a farmer at Borenore when he enlisted in October 1916. He was initially a Private, then a Trooper, with the Camel Corps; and was later transferred to the 4th Light Horse Regiment, where he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

McNab was hospitalised in January 1917, suffering from mumps, then again in May 1918, having sustained gun shot wounds to his legs.

When recommending McNab for an award his commanding officer stated:

At Sasa on 30 September 1918 (when a party of Germans were holding up the Advance Guard and inflicting casualties on our men) this H.C.O., a Hotchkiss gunner, quickly grasping the situation galloped around to a flank under heavy fire, sent his horse to cover and taking up an exposed position absolutely regardless of personal risk fired his gun until the enemy fire was silenced, thus enabling the Advance Guard to proceed without loss of time and a minimum amount of casualties. Throughout all operations this H.C.O. has shown great courage and devotion to duty.

McNab took up a soldier settlement block near Narromine following his return from the war. In September 1924 he married Ruby Euphemia Ponton in Sydney; the couple settled at Bogan Gate, moving to Milton in the 1950s, then Sydney in the 1970s.

William was living in Hurlstone Park when he passed away in June 1989.

William’s name appears on St John's Presbyterian Church Orange Honour Roll.


  • Cantrill, Peter W. 1998, Cantrill ancestry: the history of Cantrills in Australia
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