Albert Borella

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ALBERT BORELLA 1881– 1968 He was born at Borung, Victoria, 60 kms NW of Bendigo. After attending state schools at Borung & Wychitella, Borella became a farmer. He also enlisted as a part time soldier in the Victorian Rangers, serving for a period of 18 months. He travelled to Melbourne in early 1910 and became a firefighter, remained in the city until early 1913 when he travelled to the Northern Territory to take up a pastoral lease working a property on the Daly River until early 1915 when his financial situation forced him to leave the land. Borella enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He had to go to some effort to do so because at the outbreak of World War 1 the military authorities were not accepting volunteers from the NT. He accepted a job as a cook for a survey party in Tennant Creek and in 1915 he set out for Darwin to volunteer for active service. With Charlie an aboriginal man he walked 140 kms and swam across flooded rivers. After borrowing a horse at Powell Creek just north of Renner Springs NT he rode to Katherine where he caught the mail coach to the railhead at Pine Creek. He sailed from Darwin to Townsville on March 8th 1915 with 4 other men who were among the firs 15 volunteers for active service from the NT. Initially serving in the ranks as a private, Borella served with the 26th Battalion at Gallipoli from 12th Sept 1915 until being evacuated with jaundice in November. He did not join the unit again until 1916 and then served on the Western Front in France being wounded in battle of Pozieres Heights on July 29th.. He achieved promotion from corporal to Sergeant and then commissioned as an officer. He was awarded the Victoria Cross on 16th Sept 1918. .

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Albert Borella VC & Mark Donaldson VC
Albert Borella VC and Mark Donaldson VC Year 4 to Year 6 Albert Borella VC & Mark Donaldson VC Lesson objective Task Compare and contrast two Victoria Cross Read through the information about recipients Albert Borella VC and Mark Donaldson VC. As a class brainstorm all the im- National Curriculum Links portant dates and information onto a History (locate relevant information) poster for students to use as future English (compare and contrast two reference. texts) Key Fact Using the worksheet students are to Of all the orders and decorations open to compare and contrast Borella and Don- members of the Australian Defence Force, aldson, include three (3) similarities the Victoria Cross remains the most and three (3) differences between honoured, the most coveted. It marks its both men. wearer as one possessing supreme courage, a disregard for danger and complete devotion to duty. Extension Activities Find out and research other VC recipients from World War I. Compare and contrast them with Albert Borella. What did they do? What regiment were they in? Where did they serve? Albert Borella VC & Mark Donaldson VC Albert Borella VC Albert Borella was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V at Sandringham Palace, in early September 1918. His age, 36, made him the oldest recipient within the First Australian Imperial Force. Borella’s Victoria Cross was the only one awarded to a soldier from the Northern Territory during World War I. It is 1 of 11 Victoria Crosses that are currently held in private collection. His Victoria Cross citation reads: ‘For most conspicuous bravery in attack.
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