b. 07/10/1942 Wollongong, NSW, Australia. d. 25/08/1969 off Nambucca Heads, NSW.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 25/08/1969 off Nambucca Heads, NSW.
Kenneth O McIntyre AM
Ken McIntyre was born on 7 October 1942 at the Strathmore Private Hospital in Wollongong, the son of Neville and Lillian McIntyre. He attended Coniston Public School and later Fairy Meadow Public School. Ken completed his education at Keira Boys’ High School. From March 1964 until his death, Ken served on a number of ships owned by BHP Limited carrying iron ore and other resources around the Australian coast. The family lived at 39 Bassett St, Fairy Meadow. Ken McIntyre was the last recipient of the Albert Medal which was instituted in 1866 and discontinued in 1971.
AM CITATION:
On the morning of 25th August 1969, the coastal freighter M.V. “Noongah” (1,673 deadweight tons) was lost off Nambucca Heads, New South Wales, with the loss of 21 lives. The late Kenneth Owen Mclntyre was a Greaser aboard the M.V. “Noongah” at the time of the tragedy. Shortly before the foundering of the ship he was seen with other crew members on the poop deck wearing his life jacket but was then seen to remove it and informed the other crew members present that he was returning to the engine room to see if he could render any assistance. It was not clearly established before the Court of Marine Inquiry into the loss of the ship whether Mr. Mclntyre later entered the water wearing his life jacket. However, after the foundering, three members of the ship’s crew who were clinging to a plank saw Mr. Mclntyre without a life jacket supporting the Chief Cook. Having dragged the Chief Cook to the comparative safety of the plank, Mr. Mclntyre heard someone else calling for help and left the plank to attempt to render assistance. He did not return to the plank and was not seen again although his life jacket was among the debris recovered from the sea. The late Mr. Mclntyre displayed great personal courage and a complete disregard for his own safety in saving the life of a fellow member of the crew and later attempting to render assistance to a further crew member in difficulty.
BURIAL LOCATION: BODY LOST AT SEA.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
Acknowledgement:
Allan Stanistreet – Image of Kenneth McIntyre AM.