The RAAF has corrected an 80-year-old administrative oversight with the posthumous awarding of two WWII medals to a warfare hero.
Performing Flight Lieutenant Tom Carmody, who served in each world wars, was deemed eligible for each the Australian Service Medal 1939–1945 and Warfare Medal 1939–1945 after it was confirmed that he had served within the RAAF and never the Air Coaching Corps (ATC) throughout World Warfare II.
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Carmody, the one Australian to be twice awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for gallantry, served as a Pilot Officer within the Administrative and Particular Duties Department of the RAAF throughout WWII and helped develop the ATC in NSW.
Julie Carmody, the widow of Carmody’s grandson John, was offered with the 2 service medals on 10 December on the Workplace of the Chief of Air Drive in Canberra.
“Tom Carmody’s service continues to offer a effective instance for the Air Drive, Australian Defence Drive and the broader Australian neighborhood of the values of service, braveness, respect, integrity and excellence,” mentioned Wing Commander Richard MacNeil from Historical past and Heritage – Air Drive (HH–AF).
“His excellent professionalism, dedication to obligation and bravado, recognised by the distinctive award to an Australian of the MSM on two events, are a testomony to his energy of character and the standard of his service to Australia.”
Carmody was given his twin MSMs throughout World Warfare I, throughout which he first served within the eleventh Australian Mild Horse earlier than later enlisting with 2 Squadron (later 3 Squadron), Australian Flying Corps, in September 1916.
“Alongside three different 3 Squadron mechanics, Carmody was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for gallantry on August 28, 1917, for saving Sergeant R. E. Holmes from a crashed and burning plane in England,” Defence mentioned.
“The next yr, on November 5, he led efforts to save lots of plane from a burning hangar in Premont, France, whereas ammunition was exploding. These efforts earned him a Bar to his MSM.
“Greater than 1200 MSMs had been awarded to members of the Australian forces for non-operational gallantry or different useful service between 1916 and 1928, when awards of the MSM for these causes ended.”
