James Alexander Nash DFM (10 January 1923 – 28 March 1944) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| Alex Nash | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | James Alexander Nash | ||
| Date of birth | 10 January 1923 | ||
| Place of birth | Carlton, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 28 March 1944 (aged 21) | ||
| Place of death | Solomon Sea, off Bougainville Island, New Guinea | ||
| Original team(s) | Hawthorn Colts | ||
| Position(s) | Half back | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1942 | Hawthorn | 1 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1942. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family edit
The son of Stanley Nash, and Myra Lucille Nash, née McIntosh, James Alexander Nash was born at Carlton, Victoria on 10 January 1923.[1]
Football edit
His only VFL game, which was against Collingwood, was while he was on leave from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) duties.
Military service edit
A notable pilot, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his efforts during the Second World War; the award was presented to his mother by William McKell, the Governor-General of Australia, at Government House, Melbourne, on 20 October 1947.[2][3][4][5]
Death edit
He was killed in action off Bougainville, on 28 March 1944, when the bomber he was flying crashed into the sea in poor conditions and failing light while making a steep turn on his return to base after a strafing raid.[6][7]
His body was never recovered. He is commemorated at the Rabaul War Cemetery.[8]
See also edit
Footnotes edit
- ^ Service Record.
- ^ "No. 36401". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 February 1944. p. 1010.
- ^ Radio Man Saved Five Lives, The Newcastle Sun, (Saturday, 4 March 1944), p.4.
- ^ Honours and Awards (Recommendation): Flight Sergeant James Alexander Nash (410368), Collection of the Australian War Memorial.
- ^ Mr. McKell Presents War Honours, The Argus, (Tuesday, 21 October 1947), p.6.
- ^ RAAF documents.
- ^ In Memoriam: On Service: Wade, The West Australian, (Thursday, 28 March 1946), p.1.
- ^ Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
References edit
- Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
- World War Two Service Record: Pilot Officer James Alexander Nash (410368), National Archives of Australia.
- RAAF Documents relating to the crash of Beaufort A9-517 and the death of Pilot Officer James Alexander Nash (410368), National Archives of Australia.
- Roll of Honour: Pilot Officer James Alexander Nash (410368), at the Australian War Memorial.
- R.A.A.F. Casualty List: Australia and Territories: Missing, Air Operations, The Age, (Thursday, 27 April 1944), p.4.
- R.A.A.F. Casualties: South-West Pacific: Previously Reported Missing, Now Presumed Dead, The Age, (Tuesday, 29 May 1945), p.5.
- Pilot Officer James Alexander Nash, DFM (410368), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
External links edit
- Alex Nash at AustralianFootball.com
- Alex Nash's playing statistics from AFL Tables