The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (402995) Flying Officer James Sinclair McIntyre, No. 24 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Meredith Duncan, the story for this day was on (402995) Flying Officer James Sinclair McIntyre, No. 24 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War.

402995 Flying Officer James Sinclair McIntyre, No. 24 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
KIA 19 January 1942
No photograph in collection – Family supplied

Story delivered 19 January 2016

Today we pay tribute to Flying Officer James Sinclair McIntrye, who was killed while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942.

Born on 6 August 1918 in the town of Maclean in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, James McIntyre – known as Jim – was one of six children born to James and Agnes McIntyre. As a boy he attended Maclean Primary School and Maclean High School before studying at Hurlstone Agricultural School in Glenfield. At Hurlstone he was named vice captain, and was a member of the rugby first XV.

McIntyre later attended the Armidale Teachers College, where he was one of a small number of students to study Agricultural Science. The top of his class, he was also treasurer of the sports union and played Rugby League. In 1937 he was employed by the New South Wales Department of Education as an assistant teacher, and was posted to Guyra Practice (Public) School, not far from Armidale.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War McIntyre enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force, and was one of the earliest participants in the Empire Air Training Scheme. He began his initial training in Lindfield, New South Wales, before undertaking further training at Royal Australian Air Force schools in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.

In September 1941 McIntyre was posted to No. 24 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, then based in Townsville and equipped with the twin-engine Lockheed Hudson light bomber. McIntyre served as second pilot and participated in a number of reconnaissance operations. On 23 November 1941 his Hudson crashed and burned on take-off from the airstrip at Rabaul in New Britain. McIntyre sustained minor injuries, and the crew and two army passengers survived. One of the passengers later drew some watercolours recalling the scene of the crash, and these are now held in the collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Australian War Memorial.

In December 1941 No. 24 Squadron moved to Rabaul, and with Japan’s entry into the war it soon came under air attack. On 19 December McIntyre’s Hudson was reported missing, and he and his crewmates were presumed killed.

McIntyre was 23 years old.

His name is listed on the Rabaul Memorial in Papua New Guinea, and here on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with around 40,000 other Australians who died during the Second World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Flying Officer James Sinclair McIntrye, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Lachlan Grant
Historian Military History Section