Alex Nash Explained

Alex Nash
Fullname:James Alexander Nash
Birth Date:10 January 1923
Birth Place:Carlton, Victoria
Death Place:Solomon Sea, off Bougainville Island, New Guinea
Originalteam:Hawthorn Colts
Position:Half back
Statsend:1942
Years1:1942
Games Goals1:1 (0)

James Alexander Nash (10 January 1923 – 28 March 1944) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Family

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

His only VFL game, which was against Collingwood, was while he was on leave from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) duties.

Military service

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]

Death

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.[5] [6]

His body was never recovered. He is commemorated at the Rabaul War Cemetery.[7]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Service Record.
  2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167611341 Radio Man Saved Five Lives, The Newcastle Sun, (Saturday, 4 March 1944), p.4.
  3. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068972/large/5482844.JPG Honours and Awards (Recommendation): Flight Sergeant James Alexander Nash (410368)
  4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22515137 Mr. McKell Presents War Honours, The Argus, (Tuesday, 21 October 1947), p.6.
  5. RAAF documents.
  6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50332786 In Memoriam: On Service: Wade, The West Australian, (Thursday, 28 March 1946), p.1.
  7. Commonwealth War Graves Commission.