William Daniel McNab was a farmer at Borenore when he enlisted in October 1916. He was initially a Private, then a Trooper, with the Camel Corps; and was later transferred to the 4th Light Horse Regiment, where he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
McNab was hospitalised in January 1917, suffering from mumps, then again in May 1918, having sustained gun shot wounds to his legs.
When recommending McNab for an award his commanding officer stated:
At Sasa on 30 September 1918 (when a party of Germans were holding up the Advance Guard and inflicting casualties on our men) this H.C.O., a Hotchkiss gunner, quickly grasping the situation galloped around to a flank under heavy fire, sent his horse to cover and taking up an exposed position absolutely regardless of personal risk fired his gun until the enemy fire was silenced, thus enabling the Advance Guard to proceed without loss of time and a minimum amount of casualties. Throughout all operations this H.C.O. has shown great courage and devotion to duty.
McNab took up a soldier settlement block near Narromine following his return from the war. In September 1924 he married Ruby Euphemia Ponton in Sydney; the couple settled at Bogan Gate, moving to Milton in the 1950s, then Sydney in the 1970s.
William was living in Hurlstone Park when he passed away in June 1989.
William’s name appears on St John’s Presbyterian Church Orange Honour Roll.
* Cantrill, Peter W. 1998, Cantrill ancestry: the history of Cantrills in Australia
