Fire, exploding ammunition and a collapsing aircraft hangar didn't stop acting Flight Lieutenant Tom Carmody (deceased) during the Second World War - and almost a hundred years later, neither did an administrative oversight.
Last year on December 10, Warrant Officer of the Air Force Warrant Officer Ralph Clifton presented Carmody's Australian Service Medal 1939-1945 and War Medal 1939-1945 to Julie Carmody (the widow of Tom Carmody's grandson, John Carmody) at the Office of the Chief of Air Force in Canberra.
Carmody, a telephone mechanic, served in the 11th Australian Light Horse prior to enlisting as a private on September 8, 1916 (at the age of 24), with 2 Squadron (later 3 Squadron), Australian Flying Corps.
Alongside three other 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 aircraft in England.
The following year, on November 5, he led efforts to save aircraft from a burning hangar in Premont, France, while ammunition was exploding. These efforts earned him a Bar to his MSM.
'Tom Carmody's service continues to provide a fine example for the Air Force, Australian Defence Force and the wider Australian community.'
More than 1200 MSMs were awarded to members of the Australian forces for non-operational gallantry or other valuable service between 1916 and 1928, when awards of the MSM for these reasons ended. Carmody was the only Australian to be awarded the MSM for gallantry twice.
Wing Commander Richard MacNeil, from History and Heritage - Air Force (HH-AF), spoke of the high calibre of Carmody's character that led him to earn two MSM medals.
"His outstanding professionalism, dedication to duty and bravery, recognised by the unique award to an Australian of the MSM on two occasions, are a testament to his strength of character and the quality of his service to Australia," he said.
During the Second World War, Carmody was appointed to Pilot Officer in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and helped develop the Air Training Corps (ATC) in NSW until his discharge in 1946 as an acting Flight Lieutenant.
Over three quarters of a century later, in May last year, HH-AF personnel provided evidence to Defence Honours and Awards that Carmody had served in RAAF (and not in the ATC, as officially thought) during the Second World War. Defence Honours and Awards subsequently confirmed that Carmody was entitled to the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945 and War Medal 1939-1945.
"Tom Carmody's service continues to provide a fine example for the Air Force, Australian Defence Force and the wider Australian community of the values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence," Wing Commander MacNeil said.
