John Thomas McNamee was born in Innisfail and was educated at Goondi Provisional School, the Sister of Mercy Convent in Charters Towers and Nudgee College, before sitting his law exam for the University of Sydney in 1905. Although McNamee had planned on becoming a lawyer, at the age of fifteen he was deemed too young to take up articles. He thus worked as an engine driver at the Jordon Creek goldfields, before becoming a lawyer in Geraldton in 1907.
In 1914 he joined the Australian Imperial Forces as a private, and he became part of the Second Light Horse B. Squadron which served first in Gallipoli. After recovering in London from a severe injury, he joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Second Lieutenant. He was wounded again and was awarded the Military Cross and promoted to the rank of Captain. He later served in France alongside American forces, and he became the first British Officer to win the American Distinguished Service Cross.
McNamee had an avid interest in the history of Queensland, and he wrote for the North Queensland Register under the pen-name 'Bartle Frere'.
