Recipients of the Cross

Recipients of the

The following 26 stories are about outstanding valour on the battlefields of the Great War. They tell the story of those men, either born or resident of Victoria, or who enlisted here, who were recipients of the Victoria Cross, the ’s highest award for bravery in wartime, and now ’s pre-eminent award for conspicuous gallantry in combat.

he award dates back to 1856 when it was instituted by Queen Not surprisingly most of the exploits occurred at Gallipoli and on TVictoria after the Crimean War and made retrospective to cover that the various battlefields of France; this includes the first Australian soldier conflict. It is an award that from the outset could be awarded to a soldier of the war to receive the Victoria Cross, Albert Jacka. of any rank, providing the action could be attested by witnesses and But other actions occurred in further fields. William Dartnell, born took place ‘in the face of the enemy’. in Collingwood in 1885 and buried in Kenya, was awarded his Victoria When hostilities broke out between the great powers of Europe Cross posthumously, after dying in September 1915 while fighting one hundred years ago, Australia had been a nation for only 14 years. against the German army in East Africa. The colony of Victoria had been established in 1851, only five years was born in , migrated to Mildura, joined up before the introduction of the Victoria Cross, and the Queen had given when he was 17 and survived France, but received his posthumous her name to both. In 1914, the nation went to war as part of the British Victoria Cross for fighting with the British in Russia against the Empire, with Prime Minister Andrew Fisher vowing to support Great Bolsheviks in 1919. The account of his death is another example of Britain ‘to our last man and our last shilling’. extraordinary bravery, and where he earned his award demonstrates In Victoria, enthusiasm for participation appears to have been particularly the breadth and complexity of conflict spawned by the Great War. strong. It is not hard to understand why. This was not contemporary These 26 stories are not about celebration; rather, they commemorate multi-cultural Australia. With one exception, the 26 names of the recipients the feats of ordinary men who became extraordinary in the midst of are of Anglo-Celtic origin, and many had been born in the United Kingdom. battle. When we read about what they did we can only wonder how any The notion of the mother country was deeply embedded in the majority of them survived, but many did and returned to Victoria to lead long of the population who saw Australia as an extension of ‘home’. Also, as and fruitful lives. with all the countries involved, there was initial exuberance, a quest for But lest we forget, many Victorians – and Australians – did not return. adventure and a naiveté about war that had men flocking to enlist. Young men from many nations did not return. Those who did come back Some of that exuberance is reflected in these pages. were often physically and mentally broken. Despite the shared ethnic and cultural background of the 26 men, they These 26 men are not Victoria’s only wartime heroes. Rather, these stories, were all very different. Some were extremely young and many were from remarkable as they are, lead us to remembrance of the often unsung the bush, but their education and occupations – of those who were old selflessness, sacrifice, courage and determination of so many Australian enough to have one – were varied, and for those who survived, their men and women who have served at home and abroad throughout our futures were equally mixed. Most ranks are represented but it is the nation’s history. non-commissioned officers who dominate the list.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 3 Lest We Forget

“Everyone has a connection to the First World War, “August 2014 marks 100 years since the beginning of the either through family, local community, place of work or First World War. Over the Centenary, we will remember the country of origin. The Anzac Centenary is an occasion for troops who served in the Pacific, at Gallipoli, in the Middle Victorians of all backgrounds and cultures to remember East and on the Western Front.” those who served.”

The Hon Dr Denis Napthine MP The Hon Damian Drum MLC Premier of Victoria Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

4 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Contents

6 Robert Matthew6 Beatham 19 Albert 19David Lowerson 7 Frederick7 Birks 20 Robert20 Mactier 8 Albert8 Borella 21 Frank Hubert21 McNamara 9 Maurice Vincent9 Buckley 22 Rupert22 Vance Moon 10 Alexander10 Stewart Burton 23 George Raymond23 Dallas Moor 11 Percy 11Herbert Cherry 24 James Ernest24 Newland 12 Thomas12 Cooke 25 Samuel25 George Pearse 13 William 13Thomas Dartnell 26 Walter26 Peeler 14 William14 Dunstan 27 William27 Ruthven 15 Robert 15Cuthbert Grieve 28 Clifford William28 King Sadlier 16 George16 Mawby Ingram 29 Issy29 Smith 17 Albert17 Jacka 30 William30 John Symons 18 William18 Donovan Joynt 31 Frederick31 Harold Tubb

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this publication contains images of people who have passed away.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 5 Robert Matthew Beatham

obert Beatham was born in Over the next two years On 9 August near Rosières, Date of birth the small northern English Beatham was in the thick of the he received his Victoria Cross. 16 June 1894 R town of Glassonby, Cumberland action, as his battalion took part When his was held up in 1894. One of nine sons of John in many of the battles of by multiple machine-gun Place of birth and Elizabeth Beatham, he the war. He was seriously positions, Beatham and Lance- Glassonby, migrated with his brother Walter wounded during the ferocious Nottingham charged Cumberland (Cumbria), to Australia in 1913. When war Battle of Pozières in forward with rifles and hand England broke out he was working as a and did not return to his unit grenades, destroying four of the labourer in , Victoria. On for a year. In October 1917, he positions and killing and Date of death 8 January 1915, Beatham enlisted was once again wounded, this capturing two dozen Germans. 9 August 1918 in the 1st Australian Imperial time at Broodseinde during Although wounded, Beatham Force (AIF) and undertook basic the bloody slaughter of continued to advance but was cut Place of death training at Broadmeadows camp. Passchendaele, and evacuated down by machine-gun fire while Near Rosières, France His father and six of his brothers to England to recover. In February destroying a fifth position. He would also serve during the Great 1918, he returned to his unit and died instantly and was buried at War. On 17 April, Beatham soon after took part in the fighting Heath Commonwealth War boarded His Majesty’s Australian to stem General Ludendorff’s Graves Cemetery near Transport (HMAT) Hororata at offensive. Harbonnières. In March 1919, Port with other his mother received his Victoria reinforcements for the Cross from King at 8th Battalion. After several weeks Buckingham Palace. Tragically, he in Egypt, he returned to Australia was the fourth of her sons killed on medical grounds. Following during the Great War. treatment, he re-embarked in September and served briefly at Gallipoli. In March 1916, he arrived in France and soon was on the Western Front with the rest of the .

6 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Frederick Birks

rederick Birks was born in In early April 1915, after several On 20 September, his company Date of birth 1894 in the small mining town months training in Egypt, they set was in Glencorse Wood. Here 16 August 1894 F of Buckley, Flintshire in North sail once again, this time for they were held up by German Wales. One of six children of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea, where machine-gun fire and Birks, Place of birth Samuel and Mary Birks, life was final preparations for the Gallipoli accompanied by a Corporal, Buckley, Flintshire, not easy after the death of his landings took place. Landing with charged the enemy gun. After North Wales father in a pit accident at the his unit on 25 April, Birks was the Corporal fell wounded, Birks colliery when Birks was five years soon in the thick of the action. killed the German crew and Date of death old. He attended St Matthew’s Serving with the 2nd at captured the weapon. He then 21 September 1917 Church of England school and Cape Helles during the Battle of organised a small group of men to was an exemplary pupil, as well Krithia, he was recommended for attack another strong point. This Place of death as a good boxer and footballer. the . In late June position was also taken before Glencorse Wood, Belgium Leaving school at 14, Birks found he was wounded by shrapnel but Birks pressed forward and, work at the local steelworks. In soon after returned to duty. By organising men of various units, 1910, he is believed to have joined late September he had returned he helped consolidate the gains the local Territorial Army unit to Egypt. He sailed for Marseilles the Australians had made at the serving in the Royal Artillery. with the rest of the AIF in edge of Polygon Wood. The next An adventurous young man, he March 1916. day, while helping to dig out men was inspired to travel by an uncle By June, Birks was on the who had been buried by artillery living in outback . Somme and would soon take fire, he and several other men With two friends, he boarded the part in the bloody fighting around were killed by shellfire. Birks was Orient Line steamship Otway in Pozières. It was here, on 26 July, recommended for the Victoria London in August 1913 and set that he was awarded the , with the official citation off for Melbourne. Medal for ‘constant good services’ appearing in the London Gazette Soon after their arrival the in retrieving wounded men under on 8 November 1917. Seven three went their separate ways. heavy shellfire. After his unit was weeks later his mother Mary died Over the next year, Birks worked removed from the frontline, Birks on Christmas Day, soon after in and South Australia used his leave to visit his family in hearing of her son’s death. before returning to Melbourne. North Wales. In , he Almost as soon as war broke was selected for training out, he enlisted in the AIF, and received his commission the undertaking his basic training at following month. On 18 May, he Broadmeadows camp, north of was taken on strength with the Melbourne. Soon he was posted Victorian 6th Battalion in time for to the 2nd Field Ambulance, 2nd Third , known ever after as Brigade, 1st Australian Division. Passchendaele. The Battle of On 19 October, his unit embarked Menin Road in September 1917 on the HMAT Wiltshire bound, would be his first and last action they believed, for the United with his new unit. Kingdom. While crossing the Indian Ocean the ship turned north, heading for , Egypt.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 7 Albert Borella

orn in 1881 in the tiny central After several months Continuing to advance with a Date of birth Victorian town of Borung, spent recovering in England, small party of men, he then took 7 August 1881 B 60 kilometres north-west of he returned to his unit and was an even more strongly defended , Albert Borella was the promoted to Sergeant in January position and captured at least 30 Place of birth oldest Australian to be awarded 1917. Two months later, Borella of the enemy. By then he had Borung, Victoria the Victoria Cross during the received the Military Medal for moved beyond his objective and Great War. He attended the local conspicuous bravery during the an enemy counter-attack drove Date of death state school before farming in the 26th Battalion assault on Malt his men backwards. Under his 7 February 1968 Echuca and Borung districts in the Trench, Warlencourt. It was in this command they retreated in good first decade of the 20th century. same battle that fellow Victorian order, inflicting heavy casualties Place of death He later served for 18 months and member of the 26th Battalion, on the Germans. Originally , New South Wales with the Victorian Rangers before 2nd Percy Cherry, Borella was recommended for the moving to Melbourne in 1910, received his Victoria Cross for Distinguished Service Order for where he joined the Metropolitan extraordinary bravery. Within a this action but this was upgraded Fire Brigade Board. He was few weeks of this action Borella to the Victoria Cross. successful in a pastoral lease was commissioned as a A week before the armistice, ballot, so he moved to Daly River 2nd Lieutenant, and in August Borella was invalided home to in the in 1913. he was sent to England for Australia. He took up a soldier Soon after taking up this lease, officer training. settlement block near Hamilton, war was declared. At this time Returning to his unit in Victoria and married Elsie Jane recruits were not being accepted early 1918, Borella served near Love on 16 August 1928. In 1939, from the Northern Territory, so Dernancourt, north-east of he changed his name by deed poll Borella set out on foot for Amiens, France. The unit was to include his mother’s maiden . After arriving in soon in the frontline, as the final name and was known thereafter , he enlisted on great German offensive of the as Albert Chalmers-Borella. 15 March 1915, joining the 26th war drove the Allied forces back. During the Second World War, he Infantry Battalion as a . His During the next few months, the served with various garrison and unit departed Brisbane on board 26th Battalion was involved in prisoner-of-war units in Australia HMAT Ascanius on 24 May 1915. innumerable patrols and raids on before being discharged in 1945. Borella served with his unit the German lines. In July, the 2nd He settled in Albury, New South at Gallipoli from September to Division moved into position near Wales, where he raised his family November 1915, before being Villers-Bretonneux and, on 17 July, of four sons. Borella died and was evacuated with jaundice. With the 36-year-old Albert Borella performed buried with full military honours rest of the units of the 7th Brigade, the deeds for which he was awarded in 1968 at the age of 86. he sailed for southern France in the Victoria Cross. During an attack March 1916. Soon after arriving on a German trench he charged on the Somme, he was shot in the towards a machine-gun that was arm during the Battle of Pozières firing on the Australians, killing Heights on 29 July. the gun crew with his revolver and capturing the weapon.

8 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Maurice Vincent Buckley (alias Gerald Sexton)

aurice Vincent Buckley was In early 1918, he was promoted When a German artillery piece Date of birth born in Hawthorn, Victoria to Lance-Corporal and was also held up the assault, Buckley 13 April 1891 M in 1891 to Timothy and Honora involved in the fighting at once again charged forward with Mary Buckley. His father was from Hèbuterne and Villers- his and killed its crew. Place of birth Cork in Ireland and his mother Bretonneux. By June he was made He then ran across open ground Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria was Victorian. Buckley attended a Lance-Sergeant and placed in swept by enemy fire to destroy the Christian Brothers’ school in charge of a Lewis gun section. a trench mortar team before Date of death Abbotsford before beginning During the , he attacking a German dugout. After 27 January 1921 work as a coach-trimmer or was wounded by shellfire but this, he continued to attack enemy upholsterer on coaches and motor returned to his unit two days later machine-gun posts in the same Place of death vehicles. When war broke out he on 8 July 1918. Buckley’s bravery manner. By the end of the day it Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria was working in . saw him awarded the was estimated that Buckley had On 18 December, he enlisted Distinguished Conduct Medal killed or captured more than 150 in the AIF and joined the for silencing multiple German Germans. When his commanding 13th Light Horse Regiment at machine-gun positions on officer announced that he was to Broadmeadows camp in March 8 August that had been holding receive the Victoria Cross for his 1915. He departed Sydney on up the advance of his company. actions, he told his disbelieving board HMAT Ceramic on 25 June On 18 September, Buckley audience who he really was and 1915. Soon after arriving in Egypt, performed the incredible deeds why he had enlisted under an he was admitted to hospital with that would see the Victoria Cross alias. At Buckingham Palace on venereal disease and on added to the Distinguished 29 May 1919, King George V 31 August returned to Australia Conduct Medal. As the 13th pinned the Victoria Cross on HT Wiltshire. Absconding from Battalion took part in the attack to his chest. Langwarrin Camp after several on the French town of Le Verguier, On 27 October 1919, Buckley months’ treatment, he was advancing behind a creeping boarded HT Raranga and was declared a deserter in March 1916. barrage, several German discharged medically unfit from After making his way to machine-guns fired on his unit. the army on 11 December 1919. Sydney, he enlisted using the alias His citation states that ‘during the On 15 January 1921, Buckley was Gerald Sexton on 8 May 1916. whole period of the advance, critically injured in a horse riding Sexton was his mother’s maiden which was very seriously opposed, accident at Boolara, in the La name and Gerald was the name Sergeant Sexton [Buckley] was to Trobe Valley. An operation was of his recently deceased brother. the fore dealing with enemy unsuccessful and he died on Posted to the 13th Infantry machine-guns, rushing enemy 27 January at hospital in Fitzroy. Battalion, he once again departed posts, and performing great feats A requiem mass was held for him Australia aboard the HMAT of bravery and endurance without in St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Ceramic on 7 October 1916. In faltering or for a moment Melbourne before he was buried January 1917, he finally reached taking cover’.1 with full military honours in the front, and saw action with his Brighton Cemetery. Ten Victoria unit at , Polygon Wood, Cross recipients acted as his Ypres and Passchendaele. pallbearers.

1 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 13 December 1918.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 9 Alexander Stewart Burton

lexander Burton was On 25 April 1915, Burton was The three men repeatedly Date of birth born in 1893 in the small on board a hospital ship with a repelled the Turks with rifle fire 20 January 1893 A Victorian town of Kyneton. After throat infection so did not land and showers of hand grenades, attending the local state school, at Gallipoli with his unit. A week frantically rebuilding their Place of birth he found work as an ironmonger later he was well enough to join defences each time they were Kyneton, Victoria in Euroa. From 1910, he served in them at 400 Plateau – later to be blown down by the Turks. the local cadet unit as well as called Lone Pine. Soon the Eventually the veritable hail Date of death singing in the Euroa Presbyterian 2nd Victorian Brigade departed of Turkish bombs wrecked the 9 August 1915 Church choir. On 18 August 1914, Anzac Cove to take part in the parapet and one exploded he travelled to Seymour where he assault at Krithia near Cape between Burton and Dunstan. Place of death enlisted in the AIF. He was posted Helles. Returning to Anzac Cove a Dunstan was wounded and Lone Pine, Gallipoli to the 7th Battalion commanded few weeks later, Burton saw action Burton killed outright. He was by Colonel Harold ‘Pompey’ at Steele’s Post and Monash Valley 21 years old. On 15 October, Elliot and departed from Port before being slightly wounded in Burton’s Victoria Cross was Melbourne with his unit on mid-May. In July he was gazetted and in January 1916 he HMAT Hororata on 19 October promoted to Lance-Corporal was mentioned in despatches. 1914. His training at Mena in and soon after to Corporal. He has no known grave and is Egypt was briefly interrupted Within weeks, many in commemorated on the Australian when the 7th and 8th Battalions the Australian forces found memorial at Lone Pine. Burton were moved to Ismailia after themselves embroiled in the was also honoured in the Avenue Ottoman forces threatened ferocious . of Honour in Euroa and had a the Suez Canal. It was during this battle, when bridge in town named after him. Turkish forces were desperately counter-attacking positions taken by the Australians, that Burton performed the deeds for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Burton was defending a section of trench from Turkish attackers, with Lieutenant Tubb and Corporal Dunstan.

10 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Percy Herbert Cherry

ercy Cherry was born in While in Egypt he attended a Within days the 26th Battalion Date of birth Drysdale on the Bellarine machine-gun course and was was back in action as the British 4 June 1895 P Peninsula in 1895. When he was then posted to the 7th Machine and Australian forces pursued seven years old his family moved Gun Company. Arriving in France the retreating Germans who Place of birth to the town of Cradoc in the in March 1916, he commanded were withdrawing behind the Drysdale, Victoria Huon Valley, south of Hobart, the company’s 1st Battery in . After a German Tasmania. Cherry became a action near Armentières, Fleurbaix counter-attack had taken the Date of death champion apple-packer, following and Messines. He was wounded French village of Lagnicourt, the 26 March 1917 in his father’s footsteps, and was in a sniping duel with a German 7th Brigade, including Cherry’s also a member of the local cadet officer during the Battle of 26th Battalion, was ordered to Place of death unit. As an 18-year-old he was Pozières in July and the next retake it. In the face of fierce Lagnicourt, France commissioned in the 93rd Infantry month, while still recuperating, German opposition his battalion Regiment but when war was was promoted to Lieutenant. continued to advance, but all of its declared he was too young for Posted back to the 26th Battalion officers were either killed or overseas service. He enlisted in as a Company Commander, he wounded. Despite this, Cherry the AIF on 5 March 1915 and was promoted temporary Captain rallied his men and advanced into was posted to the 26th Infantry in command of A Company on the village, forcing the Germans Battalion – a combined 9 December 1916. In February out. Expecting a German Tasmanian-Queensland unit. 1917 his rank was confirmed, and counter-attack, Cherry organised Because of his age he was not within weeks he was in the thick resupply and prepared defences. given a commission, instead of the action during the fighting The battle raged throughout the receiving the rank of for Malt Trench, Warlencourt. In day and, although wounded, Quartermaster Sergeant. His unit the early hours of 2 March he led Cherry remained in command. departed Brisbane on 29 June his company through a break in At approximately 4:30pm that 1915 aboard HMAT Aeneas. In the wire and assaulted two afternoon he was killed by August he was promoted to German machine-gun positions, artillery fire. His commanding Company Sergeant-Major and in killing or capturing both. He was officer recommended him for the September arrived at Anzac Cove. wounded in this action but Victoria Cross for ‘bravery beyond He saw service at Taylor’s Hollow remained at his post, turning description’.2 He was 22 years old. and Russell’s Top but was one of the guns on the retreating He was buried in Quéant Road evacuated after being wounded enemy. Although he never knew Cemetery, Buissy, France. in the face by a grenade in early it he would receive the Military December. Upon his return to Cross for this action. Egypt he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

2 Victoria Cross recommendation, 7th Australian Infantry Brigade, no date.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 11 Thomas Cooke

homas Cooke was born in From April to July 1916, the 8th When assistance finally arrived Date of birth 1881 in the town of Kaikoura Battalion was stationed in various it was too late. Cooke was found 5 July 1881 T on the South Island of New locations in the relatively quiet slumped dead over his Lewis gun. Zealand. In his early twenties he sectors of Fleurbaix, Messines and He was recommended for a Place of birth moved to Wellington with his Armentières. As the Battle of the posthumous Victoria Cross having Kaikoura, Marlborough, family where he followed the Somme raged this quiet spell was ‘set a splendid example of New Zealand same trade as his father, carpentry. not to last. The 2nd Division determination and devotion to A keen musician, he played the moved south towards the Somme duty’.3 He has no known grave Date of death cornet in the Wellington Garrison battlefields as reserve for the and is remembered at the 24–25 July 1916 Band. In 1912, Cooke migrated to 1st Division’s attack on Pozières. Australian National Memorial Australia with his wife Maud and After they took the village on at Villers-Bretonneux. Place of death their three children, settling in 24 July 1916, the 2nd Division Pozières, France Richmond, Melbourne. He once moved forward to support them. again worked as a builder. On The 8th Battalion was allotted the 16 February 1915, he enlisted in task of moving through the village the AIF and undertook training at proper and did so during the Broadmeadows camp. He was evening of 24–25 July. Intense and allocated to the 24th Battalion, sustained artillery fire met them, eventually sailing from Port and while this was happening Melbourne aboard HMAT Cooke was ordered forward with Commonwealth on 26 November his Lewis gun team to an exposed 1915. Arriving in Egypt, he joined position to provide fire into the the 8th Battalion and sailed for German flank. As they advanced France on 26 March. into the maelstrom, the rest of the men were killed. Cooke took up a position and was seen to fire on the enemy but no support could reach him.

3 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 9 September 1916.

12 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 William Thomas Dartnell

illiam Dartnell was born in In April 1915, the Fusiliers Badly wounded in the leg and Date of birth Collingwood, Melbourne in departed for British East Africa, with his horse shot from under 6 April 1885 W 1885 to Henry Dartnell of England docking in Mombasa on 6 May. him, Dartnell ordered the rest of and his Australian-born wife, Their primary task was to guard his men to retreat while he stayed Place of birth Rose-Ann. In 1900, when he was the Uganda Railway from German behind to provide covering fire Collingwood, only 15 years old, Dartnell joined attacks. In June the Fusiliers and attempt to protect his Melbourne, Victoria the 5th Contingent of the boarded Ugandan Railway lake wounded men. When the enemy Victorian Mounted Rifles and steamers and assaulted the later withdrew, Dartnell was Date of death saw service in the Boer War. German naval base at Bukoba, found dead with his rifle and 3 September 1915 After returning to Melbourne he with Dartnell being mentioned in surrounded by dead enemy married Elizabeth Edith Smyth in despatches after being the first soldiers. He was awarded a Place of death 1907. Soon after they settled in man to enter the enemy fort. Soon posthumous Victoria Cross after Near Maktau, Fitzroy, but by 1913 Dartnell had after this battle the unit moved to losing his life ‘in a gallant attempt Kenya, East Africa decided to move to East London the town of Voi in preparation for to save others’ and is buried in in South Africa. After the outbreak the advance into German East Voi Commonwealth War Graves of war he sailed for England on Africa. On 25 July Dartnell was Cemetery, 100 kilometres inland 23 September 1914 and enlisted confirmed in the rank of from Mombasa. He was survived there under the name of Wilbur Lieutenant. To support the British by his wife and daughter. On Taylor Dartnell in the 25th advance through inhospitable 7 October 1916, his widow was (Service) Battalion (Frontiersmen), countryside the railway line presented with his Victoria Cross the (City of was extended. Once again the at Government House, Melbourne London Regiment). As a Fusiliers were tasked with by Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, temporary Lieutenant he made stopping the German raiding Governor-General of Australia, in several trips to Belgium in charge parties, which were attacking the a private ceremony. In 1956, his of drafts of artillery horses but engineers and derailing trains widow attended the Victoria did not see combat. with alarming regularity. Cross Centenary celebrations On 3 September 1915, while in London. leading a patrol near the town of Maktau, Kenya, a large German formation surprised Dartnell, killing and wounding several of his men and forcing the remainder to withdraw.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 13

illiam Dunstan, the During the ferocious combat at Dunstan continued to serve Date of birth fourth child of William Lone Pine on 9 August, Dunstan, in the Citizen Forces in , 8 March 1895 W and Henrietta Dunstan, was Corporal Burton and Lieutenant rising to the rank of Brigade Major born in 1895 in Ballarat where Tubb desperately defended their 18th Brigade before the end of the Place of birth he attended Golden Point State trench against sustained Turkish war. In 1918 he married Marjorie Ballarat, Victoria School. As was the norm in those attacks. Their sandbag barricade Carnell, a Ballarat girl, and they days, he left school at 15 and was repeatedly destroyed by a had three children. He spent Date of death joined the clerical staff at Snows deluge of bombs, which the three most of his working life as an 2 March 1957 Drapers. Under the system of kept rebuilding as they fought off accountant with the Herald compulsory universal military the Turks. At the height of the and Weekly Times under Keith Place of death training that was introduced in battle Burton was killed by a Murdoch. On 2 March 1957, he Melbourne, Victoria 1911, Dunstan served for three bomb, and Dunstan was wounded died aged 62 and, after a funeral years as a cadet, rising to the rank by gunshot and shell fragments, service attended by seven Victoria of Captain. On 2 June 1915, he which temporarily blinded him. Cross recipients, was cremated. enlisted in the AIF as a Private After reinforcements arrived and His ashes were interred at and was sent as a reinforcement the position was stabilised, Springvale Cemetery. to the 7th Battalion. He boarded Dunstan was admitted to the HMAT Wandilla on 17 June and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing sailed for the Middle East. Soon Station before being evacuated after arriving at Gallipoli he was to the 15th General Hospital in in action with his battalion, being Alexandria, Egypt. As his eyes mentioned in despatches on two were permanently damaged, occasions. He was promoted to he returned to Australia on Acting Corporal on 5 August and, 30 September aboard HT Ulysses, only days later, was involved in and was medically discharged on the battle that would earn him 1 February 1916. On 10 June 1916, his Victoria Cross. he was awarded the Victoria Cross by the Governor of Victoria on the steps of Parliament House, Melbourne.

14 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Robert Cuthbert Grieve

obert Grieve was born in British artillery then began With all the other officers of Date of birth Brighton, Melbourne in 1889 falling upon the German trenches his company killed or wounded in 19 June 1889 R to John and Annie Deas Grieve. to add to the devastation. In this action, Grieve’s extraordinary He attended Caulfield Grammar some sectors of the line German heroism may have gone Place of birth School and then Wesley College. resistance was almost totally unrecognised. Thankfully, Brighton, Following his father into the absent, the enemy dead or several of the surviving non- Melbourne, Victoria soft goods trade, he became an stupefied, not able to do anything commissioned officers, in interstate traveller and then joined other than surrender to the particular Sergeants Robison Date of death his father’s firm, Connibere, Australians and the New and Rosing, provided sworn 4 October 1957 Grieve and Connibere in Flinders Zealanders on their left flank. statements, allowing his battalion Lane, Melbourne. He served in But as the advance continued Commander to forward the Place of death the Victorian Rangers during 1915, towards the German ‘pillboxes’ recommendation to higher Melbourne, Victoria until he enlisted in the Victorian or blockhouses, machine-gun fire command. Grieve was evacuated 37th Battalion, AIF on 23 February began to mow them down. His to England where he received his 1916, receiving his commission as company was being cut to pieces Victoria Cross from King George V a 2nd Lieutenant. On 3 June, the when he took matters into his at Buckingham Palace. Due to his 37th boarded HMAT Persic and own hands. His Victoria Cross injury he missed the majority of sailed for Europe. They arrived citation in the London Gazette the horrors of Passchendaele. He in England in late July and recounts: ‘During an attack on the returned to his unit on 29 October commenced training before being enemy’s position, in the face of but had not fully recovered and deployed, with the rest of the 3rd heavy artillery and machine-gun was invalided home to Australia Division, to the trenches near fire, and after all his officers had in May 1918. Three months later Armentières in late November been wounded and his company he married May Isabel Bowman 1916. Grieve spent much of the had suffered very heavy casualties, who had nursed him in England. winter of 1916–17 seconded to the Captain Grieve located two Upon his return to Melbourne 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery. hostile machine-guns which were Grieve re-entered the soft goods In April he rejoined the 37th, holding up his advance. He then, trade and, like his father before receiving his captaincy and single-handed, under continuous him, ran a business in Flinders command of A Company in time fire from these two machine-guns, Lane. His wife died several years for 3rd Division’s first real test – succeeded in bombing and killing later and they had no children. the Battle of Messines. the two crews, reorganised the On 4 October 1957, 40 years Just before 11pm on 6 June remnants of his company and after he had performed his 1917, the 37th Battalion, along gained his original objective. astonishing act of bravery, he died with the other assault battalions Captain Grieve, by his utter of a heart attack. He was buried in of the 3rd Division, moved out of disregard of danger, and his Springvale Cemetery, as were six their billets and began to march coolness in mastering a very other Victoria Cross recipients. towards the front. At 3.10am on difficult position, set a splendid 7 June, the first of the massive example, and when he finally fell mines tunnelled under the wounded, the position had been German defences near secured and the few remaining Wytschaete exploded, followed enemy were in full flight.’4 soon after by another 18.

4 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, Thursday 2 August, 1917.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 15 George Mawby Ingram

eorge Ingram was born in As the non-commissioned officer On 5 October, as B Company Date of birth 1889 in the small central (NCO) in charge of a bombing advanced towards the town, 18 March 1889 G Victorian town of Bagshot, section, Ingram ‘showed great Ingram’s platoon came under north-east of Bendigo. At the age courage and initiative’ and was sustained rifle and machine-gun Place of birth of 14, after attending Lilydale chiefly responsible for holding off fire. Over the next few hours he Bagshot, near Sandhurst State School, he began working as and then forcing back a led multiple attacks on several (Bendigo) Victoria a carpenter. At the same time he considerably larger enemy force.5 large German positions, killing also joined the militia as a cadet. Soon after this action he fell ill and capturing dozens of the Date of death After completing his and was hospitalised in England, enemy and putting many of their 1 July 1961 apprenticeship he moved to thus missing the Battle of automatic weapons out of action. Caulfield before settling in Bullecourt. He returned to his unit By 8pm that day the battalion Place of death Murrumbeena. In 1910 he married in June and moved with them to had succeeded in capturing Hastings, Victoria Jane Nichols in East Prahran. On the Ypres sector to participate in Montbrehain, in no small part due 10 December 1914, he enlisted in Passchendaele. After another to Ingram’s bravery. He received the Australian Naval and Military hospitalisation in September he his Victoria Cross from Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) returned to his unit in October King George V at Buckingham and served in New Guinea and was made Company Palace on 15 February 1919. throughout 1915. On 12 January Sergeant-Major. When he returned to Australia, 1916, approximately one month As with many AIF battalions, Ingram worked in the building after returning to Melbourne, the 24th was under strength by industry again and was a Ingram was discharged from the 1918 but was involved in turning permanent Shrine Guard at the AN&MEF and later the same day back the from enlisted in the AIF. He undertook in March and April 1918. In June, 1935 until 1944. In 1956 he training at Broadmeadows camp Ingram was promoted to 2nd attended the Victoria Cross for much of the rest of 1916. Lieutenant but was hospitalised Centenary commemorations in On 2 October 1916, Ingram again until mid-July. From late London’s Hyde Park. He died boarded HMAT Nestor in Port August until mid-October, the at home in Hastings on the Melbourne as a reinforcement for 24th Battalion was involved in a Mornington Peninsula on the 24th Battalion. He joined his succession of battles beginning 1 July 1961 and was buried in unit in the field in January 1917 with Mont St Quentin and Frankston Cemetery. and soon found himself in the concluding at Montbrehain, thick of the action. By March he where Ingram was awarded had been promoted to Acting his Victoria Cross. Sergeant, and within days of this promotion he received the Military Medal for his role in the fighting around as the Australians pursued the retreating Germans towards the Hindenburg Line.

5 Military Medal citation, Commonwealth Gazette, No. 140, 27 August 1917.

16 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Albert Jacka

lbert Jacka was born in His Victoria Cross citation states In March 1917, Jacka was Date of birth 1893 in the tiny Victorian that ‘Jacka at once most gallantly promoted to Captain and became 10 January 1893 A town of Layard, near Winchelsea, attacked them single-handed and the 14th Battalion Intelligence south-west of Geelong. When he killed the whole party, five by rifle Officer. It was while performing Place of birth was five years old his family fire and two with the bayonet’.6 this role that Jacka received his Layard, Victoria moved to Wedderburn, north- Promotion quickly followed, third decoration, another Military west of Bendigo. After attending meaning that by November he Cross. In July at Ploegsteert Wood Date of death the local state school he followed was Company Sergeant-Major. he was wounded again, requiring 17 January 1932 his father’s trade and worked in He received his Victoria Cross another lengthy hospitalisation in the timber industry. At the age of at Windsor Castle from England. Returning to his unit Place of death 21, he enlisted in the AIF at King George V on 29 September he led them into battle against Caulfield, Heathcote in September 1914, but 1916. Jacka arrived in Marseilles German pillboxes at Polygon Melbourne, Victoria as his papers were lost he had to on 8 June 1916. He was soon in Wood on 26 September 1917. travel to Melbourne and re-enlist the thick of the action again. His war finally came to an end on 18 September. Jacka departed A month after arriving in in May 1918 when he was badly Melbourne with his unit on France, during the Battle of gassed at Villers-Bretonneux. 22 December 1914 aboard Pozières, he performed more After arriving back in Australia HMAT Ulysses. After two extraordinary acts of bravery in September 1919 aboard the months training in Egypt, the which arguably should have seen HT Euripides, he went into 14th Battalion left for Lemnos the award of a bar to his Victoria business with ex-comrades from to prepare for the landing at Cross. It was not to be and the the 14th Battalion. In 1921 he Gallipoli. Albert Jacka and an now 2nd Lieutenant Jacka was married Frances Veronica Carey advance party of the 14th landed awarded a Military Cross. On and they later adopted a daughter. at 4:30pm on 25 April 1915. 7 August the Germans overran a He was elected Mayor of St Kilda They soon took up positions at section of the Australian line and in 1929 and his business, like Courtney’s Post. It would be here captured dozens of Australians. many others, collapsed during that Jacka would earn his Victoria Witnessing this, Jacka charged the Great Depression. His health Cross – the first Australian to the enemy and a furious close- began to suffer and in December do so in the Great War. quarters battle ensued as Jacka, 1931 he was admitted to Caulfield A massive Turkish offensive with assistance from the erstwhile Military Hospital, where he died to drive the Australian and New prisoners, routed the Germans. on 17 January 1932. He was Zealand forces off their positions Having been wounded in this 39 years old. Eight Victoria Cross was launched on 19 May. During action Jacka was admitted to recipients were his pallbearers this fighting a section of the London General Hospital for and he was buried with full Australian trenches was occupied surgery, returning to his unit in military honours in St Kilda by the enemy. Jacka organised a France in December 1916. In Cemetery. Jacka Boulevard in party of men to fire on the Turks August 1916, while recovering St Kilda and the suburb of Jacka while he outflanked them. from his wounds, he was in are both named promoted to Lieutenant. in his honour.

6 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 24 .

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 17 William Donovan Joynt

illiam Joynt was born in In September, Joynt was Deviating from his line of Date of birth Elsternwick in 1889, the shot in the shoulder during advance, and having taken 19 March 1889 W third son to Irish-born Edward fighting around The Bluff and was command of the company after Joynt and his Victorian-born wife evacuated to England for several his Company Commander was Place of birth Alice. After attending Melbourne months. While he was absent the killed, Joynt rallied the men of the Elsternwick, Church of England Grammar 8th was moved again, spending 6th Battalion and continued the Melbourne, Victoria School, he spent the next few the winter back on the Somme. assault. As the enemy fire from years travelling around Australia Joynt was fit enough to return to the wood continued to hold up Date of death as a pastoralist. He spent time in his unit in January 1917. For the the attack, Joynt led a bayonet 5 May 1986 North Queensland, Western next 18 months the 8th Battalion charge and ‘turned a stubborn Australia and the Mallee in was engaged in almost defence into an abject surrender’.7 Place of death north-western Victoria. When continuous action, first in the Originally recommended for the Windsor, the Great War broke out he was pursuit of the Germans back to Distinguished Service Order, this Melbourne, Victoria farming on Flinders Island in their defensive positions on the was upgraded to the Victoria Bass Strait. He returned to the Hindenburg Line, and for the Cross. Three days later Joynt was mainland and enlisted on 5 May second half of 1917 in the morass seriously wounded, evacuated 1915. Due to his previous two of Passchendaele, the Third to England and took no further years service with the Victorian Battle of Ypres. It was during part in the war. Rifles militia unit he was this campaign that his older After returning to Australia commissioned as a brother Gerald was killed on in 1920, Joynt took up a soldier 2nd Lieutenant. He finally 25 September 1917 in action settlement block in Berwick. His departed Melbourne aboard with the 57th Battalion at interests were many and varied HMAT Wiltshire on 7 March 1916 Polygon Wood, Belgium. and a few years later he entered as a reinforcement for the 8th The 8th Battalion, like the rest the printing trade. He continued Battalion. He arrived in France in of the AIF, was instrumental in in printing and publishing for the May and joined his battalion two turning back the German Spring rest of his life. In 1932 he married months later. Offensive in March and April Edith Amy Garrett. An inaugural Joynt soon found himself in 1918. It was later in the year, member of Legacy and a action as the 8th Battalion took during the massive Allied supporter of the construction of part in the fighting around offensive launched on 8 August the Shrine of Remembrance, he Pozières in July and August 1916. near Amiens, that Joynt performed served in the militia and also It was after this battle that one the deeds for which he received during the Second World War as of the unit’s members, Thomas his Victoria Cross. On 23 August a Major in charge of various bases Cooke, received a posthumous 1918, during his battalion’s assault in Victoria. When he died on Victoria Cross. After leaving on Herleville Wood, 17 kilometres 5 May 1986 at the age of 97, Pozières, the unit moved north to south-east of Albert, Joynt realised he was the last surviving Ypres for the latter part of the year. that the advance was breaking WWI Victoria Cross recipient. down as the 6th Battalion, which He was buried with full military they were supporting, was honours in Brighton Cemetery. swept by fire.

7 Victoria Cross citation, Commonwealth Gazette, No. 36, 14 March 1919.

18 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Albert David Lowerson

lbert Lowerson was born Three weeks later, in early May, Although he had a severe Date of birth in 1896 in the north-eastern he was seriously wounded during leg wound he ensured that the 2 August 1896 A Victorian town of Myrtleford, the battle for Bullecourt. It was six position was consolidated and his 45 kilometres from Wangaratta. months before he had recovered men ready to repel any further Place of birth A labourer, he was dredging for sufficiently to return to his unit. In enemy action. He returned to Myrtleford, Victoria gold at Adelong in the Riverina the meantime the 21st had taken duty three weeks later and was district of New South Wales when part in bloody action during Third wounded for a fourth time during Date of death he decided to enlist. After signing Ypres, including the seizure of the fighting at Montbrehain on 15 December 1945 up on 16 July 1915, he was Broodseinde Ridge. His battalion 5 October, the final AIF action allotted as a reinforcement for the spent the winter of 1917–18 of the Great War. Place of death 21st Battalion. Two months later, recovering from these losses. Lowerson received his Victoria Myrtleford, Victoria on 29 September, he boarded The action did not decrease Cross from King George V at RMS Osterley at Port Melbourne throughout 1918 as the 21st Buckingham Palace on 1 March bound for the Middle East. He Battalion first helped to stem the 1919 and returned to Australia in joined his unit in January after its German Spring Offensive near April. After the war he went back return from Gallipoli and left with Amiens and was then in action to Myrtleford and farmed a soldier it in March as the AIF sailed for most of the rest of the year. settlement block during the across the Mediterranean Sea to Lowerson would fight at General interwar period. He married Edith Marseilles. After a brief period to Monash’s great triumph, the Larkins at St Patrick’s Cathedral, acclimatise near Armentières, the Battle for Hamel in July, and East Melbourne in 1930. During 21st Battalion was the first AIF only weeks later at Amiens. the Second World War he served unit to see action on the Western On 28 August, he distinguished in various training establishments Front in April 1916. The unit was himself at Herbécourt, and in until his discharge in 1944. He soon moved to the Somme with September during the assault on died of leukaemia in 1945 and the rest of the AIF and became the heights of Mont St Quentin was buried in Myrtleford embroiled in the battle for Lowerson performed the deeds cemetery, survived by his wife Pozières in late July and for which he was awarded the and daughter. In 1966 the local early August. Victoria Cross. On 1 September, swimming pool was named in In late August Lowerson was as his battalion approached their his honour. wounded during the fighting for final objective, they were Mouquet Farm, a battle that cost subjected to withering machine- his battalion dearly. While he was gun fire from multiple positions. away recovering he was Seizing the initiative, he led a recommended for the Military party of men and attacked a Medal for ‘gallant and skilful work’ German strong point, bombing during the fighting at Armentières the enemy into submission, and and Pozières.8 It was not capturing ‘twelve machine-guns forthcoming. In November he was and thirty prisoners’.9 promoted to Corporal and in April 1917 to Temporary Sergeant.

8 Military Medal recommendation, 15 September 1915. 9 Victoria Cross recommendation, Commonwealth Gazette, No. 61, 23 May 1919.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 19 Robert Mactier

obert Mactier was born in As with all AIF units, the 23rd was After killing its crew with hand Date of birth Tatura, west of Shepparton, in heavily involved in the fighting to grenades and a pistol, he 17 May 1890 R 1890. The seventh of 10 children stop the German Spring Offensive, continued to advance and of Scottish-born Robert Mactier which was launched in March single-handedly attacked the next, Place of birth and his Victorian-born wife 1918. In April he was gassed and larger, German position. Tatura, Victoria Christina, he attended Tatura during the fighting around Albert Realising that a third machine- State School where he was a in the Somme but returned to his gun was on their flank and firing Date of death noted sportsman and shooter. He unit soon after. In July he took on his comrades, he charged for a 1 September 1918 worked on his father’s properties part in the triumphant AIF battle third time, again destroying the and when he enlisted gave his at Hamel, and later in the August Germans’ position. As he was Place of death occupation as ‘farmer’. After offensive, which signalled the setting off on a fourth charge he Mont St Quentin, France careful consideration about imminent demise of the German was killed by fire from another whether or not to join up, he army. On 1 September 1918, the German machine-gun. Not only travelled to Seymour, enlisted on Battle of Mont St Quentin began did Mactier display incredible 1 March 1917 and was soon sent and Mactier performed the deeds individual heroism, but it was also to the Recruits Battalion at for which he received the ‘entirely due to his exceptional Broadmeadows camp. Two Victoria Cross. valour and determination’ that his months of training followed Acting as a runner, he was unit was able to take part in the before he and 151 other sent forward by his commanding successful assault on Mont St reinforcements for the officer to determine why his Quentin over the next few 23rd Battalion made their way to company was not able to move hours.10 He was buried in Hem Port Melbourne. On 11 May 1917, forward to its jumping-off point. Farm Military Cemetery, north- they left Melbourne aboard On his own initiative, Mactier west of Péronne. Mactier is HMAT Ascanius. charged forward and attacked the remembered in his home town After training in England for German machine-gun position, of Tatura where there is a stained- four months, Mactier arrived in which was the cause of the delay. glass window in St Andrew’s France on 15 November 1917. Church dedicated to him and Ten days later he joined the a local park named after him. 23rd Battalion.

10 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 14 December 1918.

20 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Frank Hubert McNamara

rank McNamara was born in Soon after his arrival in Egypt, Before the Turks arrived they Date of birth Waranga, a small Goulbourn he was sent to the Central Flying managed to quickly repair 4 April 1894 F Valley town near Rushworth, west School in England and seconded Rutherford’s plane and, with of Shepparton, in 1894, and was to the Royal Flying Corps. In McNamara at the controls, took Place of birth the only Australian airman to August the same year, he returned off just ahead of the enemy. Weak Rushworth, Victoria receive the Victoria Cross during to Egypt and was posted back to from loss of blood, McNamara the Great War. In 1910, when he No. 1 Squadron, which was based managed to fly them safely back Date of death was 16 years old, his family at Heliopolis. On 22 December to base. While still recovering 2 November 1961 moved to Melbourne. The 1916, he flew in his first combat from his wound he was promoted following year he joined the operation. to Captain and Flight Commander Place of death Senior Cadets and in 1912 he The early months of 1917 saw of No. 4 Squadron, AFC but due London, England transferred to the Brighton Rifles him fly many more sorties, several to his leg wound he was unable to (46th Infantry Battalion). When of these bombing missions in resume flying duties. In August he he was 19 he studied to become support of ground operations was invalided back to Australia, a teacher and briefly taught at attempting to seize the important and on 4 October 1917 several Victorian schools. His town of Gaza. It was during an McNamara’s Victoria Cross was enrolment at the University of operation on 20 March 1917 that gazetted ‘for most conspicuous Melbourne was interrupted by McNamara earned his Victoria bravery and devotion to duty the outbreak of war. After Cross. One of his bombs exploded during an aerial bomb attack’.11 mobilisation he served at both prematurely, damaging his aircraft McNamara went on to have a and Point and badly wounding him in the distinguished career in the Royal Nepean. At the end of 1914 he right thigh. Turning towards base, Australian Air Force (RAAF) and attended an officers’ training he saw fellow pilot Captain DW served throughout the Second course at Broadmeadows and Rutherford on the ground beside World War in the United upon graduation immediately his plane and a large group of Kingdom, and on secondment to began instructing at the Training Turkish cavalry charging towards the Royal Air Force. After being Depot, also at Broadmeadows. the landing site. McNamara retired from the RAAF in 1946, he After four months he volunteered rapidly brought his single-seat continued to live in England and for flying training. He began his Martinsyde G 100 down beside died in Buckinghamshire on flying course in August 1915, Rutherford. After Rutherford had 2 November 1961. He is soloed in a Bristol Boxkite in climbed onto the wing McNamara memorialised by a park in September and received his wings attempted to take off, but he Shepparton and at the Oakey in October. He was subsequently could not control the aircraft Army Aviation Centre in posted to No. 1 Squadron, properly because of his wound Queensland. Australian Flying Corps (AFC) as and the plane crashed. Both adjutant and departed Melbourne airmen escaped without further with his unit aboard HMAT injury and then set McNamara’s Orsova on 16 March 1916, aircraft alight. bound for the Middle East.

11 Victoria Cross citation, Commonwealth Gazette, 4 October 1917.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 21 Rupert Vance Moon

upert Moon, usually known On 9 September 1916, he was It was only after this fourth Date of birth as ‘Mick’, was born in 1892 in transferred to the Victorian 58th wound that he consented to 14 August 1892 R Bacchus Marsh to Arthur and Infantry Battalion and was leave the field of battle. His Helen Moon. He spent his promoted to the rank of 2nd Victoria Cross citation states Place of birth childhood in Maffra, Gippsland Lieutenant. His new unit was still that ‘his bravery was magnificent Bacchus Marsh, Victoria and later attended Kyneton recovering from the catastrophic and largely instrumental in the Grammar School. Following in his Battle of Fromelles in July 1916 successful issue against superior Date of death father’s footsteps, he joined the and it did not see major action numbers’.12 28 February 1986 National Bank at the age of 16, again until 1917. As the Germans Moon returned to Australia on working in several branches withdrew behind the Hindenburg HT Corinthic on 10 January 1918. Place of death across Victoria. He was also an Line, the 58th was involved in the Desperate to go back to his unit, Barwon Heads, Victoria active member of the militia and pursuit and soon participated in he was declared fit and boarded served in the 13th Light Horse the Battle of Bullecourt. It was HT Euripides on 1 May 1918, Regiment and the 8th Infantry during this battle, on 12 May rejoining his unit in August 1918. Regiment. When war broke out in 1917, that Moon earned the After further service in France he July 1914, Moon was working as a Victoria Cross. returned with the bank clerk at the Collins Street Leading his men towards a 58th to England in late 1918, and branch of the National Bank, the German strong point, Moon was finally to Australia on 3 August same branch as his father. On hit by enemy fire. He continued 1919, almost exactly five years 21 August 1914, he enlisted as to attack before being wounded after he had enlisted. a trumpeter in the 1st AIF. Two a second time, as they captured Moon worked at various jobs months later, on 19 October 1914, a large section of the German after the war, both interstate and he boarded the HMAT Wiltshire. trench system. Steadying himself overseas. In 1931, he married After arriving in the Middle after his second wound, he Susan May Vincent with whom he East, Moon continued training in attacked a large German dugout, had a son and a daughter. When Egypt, eventually being deployed from which enemy soldiers were the Second World War broke out with the 4th Light Horse to pouring to reinforce their he was a member of the Volunteer Gallipoli in May 1915. The unit comrades in the fortifications. Defence Corps and by 1943 was served without their horses as After being hit a third time, he an Assistant Staff Captain. After infantry and saw some fierce staggered on and the German the war he lived in Mt Duneed action, particularly around Ryrie’s position was taken with almost and eventually settled in Barwon Post on Holly Ridge. Apart from 200 prisoners. While ensuring Heads, where he died in 1986. a brief spell in hospital, he that his men held the position remained on the peninsula until in depth with multiple lines of the withdrawal in late December. defence, he was shot in the face In March 1916, he was promoted and his jaw was broken. to Sergeant and he arrived in Marseilles on 17 June 1916.

12 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 12 June 1917.

22 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 George Raymond Dallas Moor

eorge Moor was born at his The sea turned red for 50 metres Unstated in this account Date of birth aunt’s house in Pollington from the beach as hundreds of but acknowledged elsewhere, 22 October 1896 G Street, St Kilda behind the Esplanade men fell dead and wounded into including in the Hampshire Hotel in 1896. His parents, the water. Moor was one of the regimental history, is the Place of birth William Henry and Eva Moor, lucky ones, escaping the carnage allegation that Moor shot several St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria moved back to England before unwounded, although his luck of the retreating men, which George began primary school. He was not to last and he was hit on caused the rest of them to halt Date of death attended Appleby House School 28 April. He returned to action their retreat and return to the fray. 3 November 1918 on the Isle of Wight, off the south soon after and by 10 May his As all of the officers of his unit coast of England between 1906 battalion had shrunk from had been killed or wounded by Place of death and 1910, before moving to 1,025 to 250 men. this time it was officers of Mouvaux, France Cheltenham College. When he Three weeks later, on 6 June, neighbouring units who, having was only 17 years old he enlisted Moor performed the deeds for witnessed his incredible actions as a Private in the Public Schools which he was awarded the and stabilising of the line, Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers. Victoria Cross. The Third Battle of recommended he receive the Within five weeks of war being Krithia, launched two days earlier, Victoria Cross. Soon afterwards declared, his father had ensured had begun with great promise but Moor was sent back to England that Moor received a commission soon Turkish resistance increased. suffering from dysentery. and he was transferred to the 3rd Late on 5 June the Hampshires After recovering, Moor rejoined Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment, were still advancing, despite his unit in 1916 in France where the unit his father had served in heavy losses. Early the next day, he received the Military Cross many years before. After a brief Moor’s unit had only two and Bar for further acts of great period of training, the Hampshires unwounded officers, and this bravery. He was seriously departed Avonmouth, Bristol was soon reduced to one, leaving wounded and gassed on two on 29 March 1915 and set sail 18-year-old Moor in command further occasions and died a for Egypt. of the remnants of his battalion. week before the war ended at As part of the British 29th Almost as soon as this happened Mouveaux, France, succumbing to Division, the Hampshires were a more critical situation the influenza epidemic sweeping tasked to land at V Beach, Cape developed, as a Turkish attack Europe. He was 22 years old. Helles on the morning of 25 April. on a neighbouring unit caused Their landing vessel, the River a disorganised mass of men to Clyde, was beached so that the retreat, leaving the flank of the soldiers aboard could close with Hampshires exposed. His Victoria the enemy rapidly. Along with the Cross citation states that Moor other units aboard the ship, the ‘immediately grasped the danger Dublin Fusiliers and the to the remainder of the line, Munsters, the unit was cut to dashed back some 200 yards, pieces as the men ran down stemmed the retirement, led gangplanks towards the shore. the men back and recaptured the lost trench’.13

13 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 24 July 1915

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 23 James Ernest Newland

ames Newland was born in He was promoted to Captain on When his company was attacked Date of birth 1881 to William and Louise Jane 1 March 1916, and in late March from two different directions 22 August 1881 J Newland in Highton, Geelong. he travelled with his unit to Newland managed to control his At the age of 18 he joined the Marseilles, arriving on 5 April. In men in a tactical withdrawal to a Place of birth army and briefly served in the late August, during the Battle of more favourable position and Highton, Victoria Boer War with the Australian the Somme, and after successfully fight off a superior enemy Commonwealth Horse. He commanding an attack near formation until support arrived Date of death transferred to the Royal Australian Mouquet Farm, he was to reinforce the line. Three weeks 19 March 1949 Artillery in Victoria after his return recommended for the Military later, during the second Battle to Australia, serving between 1903 Cross and the French Croix de of Bullecourt, Newland was Place of death and 1907 before giving a year’s Guerre but this was downgraded wounded for a third time and had Caulfield, service as a policeman in to a mention in despatches. to be evacuated to England. He Melbourne, Victoria Tasmania. In 1910, he joined the On 1 March 1917, he was again received his Victoria Cross from Australian regular army and was a wounded in action and treated for King George V at Buckingham member of the instructional staff a gunshot injury to his face. He Palace on 21 July 1917. Due to the until the outbreak of war in 1914. rejoined his unit at the end of severity of his wound he returned He enlisted in the small town of March. At Boursies and to Australia in September 1917 Pontville, north of Hobart on Lagnicourt near Bullecourt, and was discharged medically 17 August 1914 and was made between 7 and 15 April, Newland unfit in March 1918. Regimental Quartermaster performed several extraordinary Newland returned to Tasmania, Sergeant of the 12th Battalion. deeds for which he would receive but after his first wife died in 1924 The unit departed Hobart on the Victoria Cross. On the night of he moved back to Victoria and 20 October 1914 aboard HMAT 7 April, he led A Company in its married Vivienne Broughton in Geelong, bound for Egypt and assault on the German strong Bendigo the following year. eventually Gallipoli. point known as the Windmill. Throughout the interwar years he The 12th Battalion was one of Despite very heavy resistance they was a member of the permanent the first ashore on 25 April and were successful and forced the military forces, before being Newland was shot in the arm Germans out. The following night placed on the retired list in 1941 sometime during this day or the the enemy counter-attacked and after almost 40 years of service. next, before being evacuated to Newland ‘by personal exertion, During the Second World War he 1st General Hospital, Heliopolis, utter disregard of fire, and was a member of the inspection Egypt and returning to his unit on judicious use of reserves ... staff at the Maribyrnong Small 26 May. Two weeks later he was succeeded in dispersing the Arms and Ammunition Factory. detailed to return to Alexandria enemy and regaining the He died of heart failure at to take charge of a transport, but position’.14 The battle had cost his Caulfield on 19 March 1949 and by October was back on the battalion 240 casualties however, was buried in Brighton Cemetery. peninsula and was promoted and they were withdrawn from He was survived by his second to Lieutenant on 15 October. In action. The respite was only wife and daughter. November he was in hospital in temporary, and in fierce fighting Egypt again after contracting near Lagnicourt on 14–15 April dengue fever. Newland again demonstrated tactical initiative, incredible heroism and inspiring leadership.

14 Victoria Cross citation, Commonwealth Gazette, No. 169, 4 October 1917.

24 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Samuel George Pearse

amuel Pearse was born in the On 24 August 1916, Pearse was Within weeks he was in action Date of birth small South Wales town of transferred to the 2nd Machine near Emptsa, 200 kilometres 16 July 1897 S Penarth, just outside the capital Gun Company and the same day south of the port of Archangel, in Cardiff in 1897. When he was was wounded in action. A good support of White Russian forces Place of birth 14 he migrated to Australia with soldier while in action, once out attempting to drive back the Penarth, Glamorgan, Wales his father and a brother. After they of the line he found himself in Bolsheviks. During the attack on had settled on a property at trouble, regularly receiving field Bolshevik defences outside the Date of death Koorlong, near Mildura, the rest punishment, having his pay town on 29 August 1919, Pearse 29 August 1919 of the family joined them. Samuel stopped and being reduced to performed the deeds for which he worked on the family farm and the ranks. He was also evacuated was awarded the Victoria Cross. Place of death picked up seasonal work, including to hospital on numerous His citation states that ‘Sergeant Near Emptsa, North Russia trapping, fruit-picking and working occasions for a variety of reasons. Pearse cut his way through the on a local paddle steamer. With However, his bravery during enemy barbed wire under very his parents’ written permission he battle was undeniable and this heavy machine-gun and rifle fire enlisted in the AIF on 5 July 1915, was demonstrated during and … seeing that a blockhouse just before his 18th birthday, Passchendaele when he was was harassing our advance and giving his occupation as a trapper. awarded the Military Medal on causing us casualties, he charged Posted to the 7th Battalion, he 31 October 1917. In May 1918, the blockhouse single-handed; departed Melbourne aboard HMAT he was wounded in action and killing the occupants with bombs’.15 Star of Victoria on 10 September was sent to England for treatment, Seconds later a burst of machine- 1915. Allotted to D Company, he not re-joining his unit until after gun fire from another position cut briefly served with his battalion at the armistice. him down, killing him instantly. Gallipoli in December before they While waiting to be discharged The following year his wife and were evacuated on the RMS and return to Australia, he met infant daughter migrated to Empress of Britain to Egypt. After Catherine Knox of the Women’s Australia. He is remembered in further training and integrating Auxiliary Army Service. They were his adopted country with a public reinforcements his unit left for married on 1 June 1919 and soon park in Mildura, which is named Marseilles, France in March 1916. Catherine was pregnant. They after him. fatefully decided to remain in England until after the birth. Pearse was discharged from the 1st Machine Gun Battalion, AIF on 18 July 1919 and almost immediately re-enlisted in the 45th Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers, otherwise known as the Russian Relief Force.

15 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 23 October 1919.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 25 Walter Peeler

orn in 1887 at Barker’s Creek As they moved forward with Between the wars, Peeler Date of birth north of Castlemaine in the assault wave, Peeler became worked for the Department of 9 August 1887 B central Victoria, Walter Peeler was involved in ground combat. Lands and at the Sunshine the eighth child of William and Despite the massive artillery Harvester Works. In 1934 he was Place of birth Mary Ellen Peeler. He worked on bombardment that preceded the appointed Custodian of the Barker’s Creek, near his parents’ orchard in Barker’s attack, the Germans continued Shrine of Remembrance and held Castlemaine, Victoria Creek and at Thompson’s Foundry with an attack of their own which this position until 1964, except for in Castlemaine. He married had been planned for the same the years 1940–45. Lowering his Date of death Kathleen Emma Hewitt in 1907. day and time, at dawn on age quite considerably, he enlisted 23 May 1968 He was working as a labourer in 4 October. in the 2nd AIF after the outbreak the Gippsland town of Leongatha On at least four occasions over of the Second World War and Place of death when he decided to enlist on the space of two hours Peeler served with the 2/2nd Pioneer South Caulfield, Melbourne, 17 February 1916. He was posted charged enemy machine-gun Battalion. His unit departed for Victoria as a Private to the machine-gun emplacements, killing and the Middle East aboard the Queen section of the 3rd Pioneer disabling at least 30 of the enemy Mary in April 1941, arriving in Battalion, which sailed from in the process. His Victoria Cross time to see action with the 7th Melbourne aboard HMAT citation states that Peeler Division during the Syrian Wandilla on 6 June 1916. After ‘displayed an absolute campaign. After the entry of Japan further training in England, the fearlessness in making his way into the war, the battalion arrived in France in late ahead of the first wave of the departed the Middle East in November 1916 and served in the assault, and the fine example January 1942. Diverted to Java, Armentières sector. which he set insured the success Dutch East Indies, his unit was In May 1917, Peeler and his unit of the attack against most soon captured by the Japanese moved to Ploegsteert, Belgium in determined opposition’.16 Eight and Peeler spent the next three preparation for the assault on days later he was involved in and a half years in various POW Messines. Here they supported further fighting at Passchendaele camps, and laboured on the the 3rd Australian Division during but this time was wounded. notorious Thai–Burma Railway. its initiation to combat on the Hospitalised in England, he Upon his return to Melbourne he Western Front. Peeler was slightly received his Victoria Cross from learnt that his son Donald had wounded by shrapnel during this King George V at Buckingham been killed in the Bougainville battle but remained on duty. On Palace on 8 January 1918. campaign in December 1944. 1 October the pioneers moved to On 29 August 1918 he returned He returned to the Shrine, Zonnebeke, and three days later to Australia. eventually retiring in 1964. He Peeler’s actions during the Battle died on 23 May 1968 and was of Broodseinde Ridge would earn buried in Brighton Cemetery. him his Victoria Cross. Peeler and He was survived by his wife and two dozen other Lewis Gun four of his children. section members from the 3rd Pioneers were seconded to the 37th Battalion to assist as anti-aircraft gunners.

16 Victoria Cross citation, Commonwealth Gazette, No. 31, 7 March 1918.

26 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 William Ruthven

illiam ‘Rusty’ Ruthven After a relatively quiet 1917–18 The next month Ruthven Date of birth was born in 1893 in winter, the 22nd Battalion was in was wounded at Méricourt-sur- 21 May 1893 W Collingwood to Peter and action again, helping stem the Somme and in July 1918 he was Catherine Ruthven. He attended tide of the German Spring promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. He Place of birth Collingwood Primary School Offensive in March and April returned to Australia in October Collingwood, Melbourne, and was working in the timber 1918. Soon after this action with other Victoria Cross recipients Victoria industry as a wood machinist Ruthven earned his battalion’s to assist with recruiting, as by this when war broke out. On 16 April only Victoria Cross. stage most of the Australian Date of death 1915, at 21 years of age, he On 19 May the 6th Brigade, battalions had been reduced to 12 January 1970 enlisted as a Private and was of which the 22nd Battalion was 400 men or fewer. Accorded a assigned to the 22nd Infantry a member, was tasked with hero’s welcome in Melbourne, the Place of death Battalion, 2nd Division. After capturing the Somme village war ended soon after his return Heidelberg, Melbourne, several months training at of Ville-sur-Ancre. The 22nd and he was discharged from the Victoria Broadmeadows camp he boarded Battalion was to outflank on the AIF in December. He married HMAT Anchises on 26 August right while their sister battalions, Irene May White in Abbotsford 1915, one of more than 150 the 21st, 23rd and 24th, moved in in 1919 and they later had a reinforcements for the 22nd and crossed the Ancre River from daughter and a son. He took Battalion. In October he joined his other directions. As Ruthven’s up a soldier settlement block at unit at Gallipoli and saw action company moved forward, the Werrimull in the Sunraysia region before the withdrawal of the force Company Commander was of Victoria, west of Mildura, but in December. Along with the wounded. Ruthven took charge after several hard years the family majority of the AIF, Ruthven left of those in his vicinity, including returned to Collingwood. In early Egypt bound for France in March company headquarters, and 1932 he was one of the Victoria 1916, after they had integrated continued the assault. When held Cross pallbearers at Albert Jacka’s further reinforcements. up by a German machine-gun funeral. During the Second World In April, the battalion was sent position he charged forward and War Ruthven served in a number to the Fleurbaix sector where put it out of action with rifle, of garrison battalions, including Ruthven was wounded on the bayonet and bombs. The at Murchison, the largest POW 17th. He rejoined the battalion in Australians moved forward and camp in the state. A man with a August, just missing the bloody he consolidated the position. keen interest in politics, he was combat that the AIF experienced Realising more Germans were first elected as a Collingwood during the Battle of Pozières. By moving along the ‘caterpillar’ – councillor, then mayor, and later September, Ruthven and his unit a sunken road running from became a long-serving Labor had moved north to Ypres before the village up a nearby hill – he Party member of parliament from marching south again to spend charged forward armed only with 1944 until 1961. He died, aged 77, the 1916 –17 winter on the a revolver. His Victoria Cross on 12 January 1970 at Heidelberg Somme. During this period, on citation states that he ‘single- Repatriation Hospital and was 26 January 1917, he was promoted handed mopped up the position survived by his wife and children. to Sergeant. The year 1917 was and captured the whole of the a long and bloody one for the garrison, amounting in all to Australians, with the 22nd thirty-two’.17 Battalion seeing action from Bullecourt in April 1917 through to Broodseinde Ridge in October.

17 Victoria Cross citation, Commonwealth Gazette, No. 185, 27 November 1918.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 27 Clifford William King Sadlier

lifford Sadlier was born in Upon arrival in England he Sadlier immediately organised Date of birth 1892 in Camberwell, Victoria reverted to the rank of Private a Lewis gun and his bombing 11 June 1892 C to Irish-born Thomas and Mary but shortly thereafter he was section and they assaulted the Ann Sadlier from Adelaide. He recommended for a non- enemy guns. He was hit in the Place of birth attended University High School commissioned officer course thigh but continued forward as Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria before his parents moved to Perth, at Candahar, Tidworth. After his men dropped around him. The settling in Subiaco. He was successfully completing this first position containing two guns Date of death working as a commercial traveller course, he rejoined his battalion was taken but by this time all his 28 April 1964 when he decided to sign up. He in France on 13 May 1917 and men had been killed or wounded. and his brother Clarence Andrew five days later was promoted to He therefore ‘attacked a third Place of death James Sadlier enlisted together in Corporal. The 51st was serving at machine-gun with his revolver, Busselton, Perth on 26 May 1915 and were Ypres and took part in the Battle killing the crew of four and taking posted to the of Messines in June and Polygon the gun. In doing so, he was again Medical Corps. After service in Wood in September. The winter wounded’.18 This time he had to Heliopolis, Egypt with the of 1917–18 was spent in the line be evacuated due to the severity 1st Australian General Hospital on the Somme. of the wound. he boarded HT Nestor on Along with the rest of the AIF, He returned to England for 9 February 1916 as a member the 51st Battalion was rushed further treatment and in August of the nursing staff, bound forward to meet the German boarded the SS bound for for Australia. advance during the spring Melbourne. Soon after arriving in Soon after his return he offensive, and in late March October 1918, he travelled back to re-enlisted in the AIF and was 1918 took up positions near Perth and was discharged from posted as a reinforcement to Dernancourt on the River Ancre. the army in early 1919. He the 51st Battalion, a Western The climax of this battle took married Maude Victoria Moore Australian unit that had been place at Villers-Bretonneux over in 1922. During the 1920s, he formed after the expansion of the 24 and 25 April – . worked as a manufacturer’s agent AIF in Egypt in March 1916 as part It was for his actions on this day before joining the Repatriation of the 13th Brigade, . that the now Lieutenant Sadlier Department in 1936. Upon his Due to his previous experience received his Victoria Cross. At retirement he moved to Busselton, he was soon promoted to Acting 10pm on the 24th he led his south of Perth. He died there on Sergeant. On 9 November 1916, platoon through Abbey Wood. 28 April 1968, survived by his he boarded HMAT Argyllshire in As they moved forward into the second wife, Alice Edith Smart. Fremantle, Western Australia, and darkness, they came under sailed for the United Kingdom. sustained machine-gun fire from their flank, which cut down dozens of the Australians.

18 Victoria Cross citation, Commonwealth Gazette, No. 185, 27 November 1918.

28 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Issy Smith (Ishroulch Szmilowitz, also listed as Israel Shmeilowitz or Shlmovitz)

shroulch Szmilowitz was When Smith attempted to Smith was eventually wounded Date of birth born in Egypt in 1888 (or enlist, he was informed that and evacuated to the United circa 18 September 1888 I 1886 or 1890) to Orthodox because he was still on the British Kingdom to recover. While Jewish parents, Moses and Eva army reserve list he would have to recuperating he assisted with Place of birth Szmilowitz. His parents had report to Victoria Barracks, recruiting and drew large crowds, Alexandria, Egypt migrated to France from Russia St Kilda Road for onward passage particularly in areas with sizeable and his father was working at the to England where he would rejoin Jewish populations. Meanwhile Date of death French Consulate in Alexandria. 1st Battalion, the Manchester his unit had been redeployed to 11 September 1940 When only 11 years old, Ishroulch Regiment. He departed Mesopotamia and when Smith stowed away on a merchant ship Melbourne with the first AIF had fully recovered, he re-joined Place of death bound for London. He lived there convoy on 19 October 1914, was his regiment in early 1916. He saw Moonee Ponds, with his older brother Maurice, made Acting Lance-Corporal on out the war in that theatre of Melbourne, Victoria attended school and worked at 19 December and finally re-joined operations, being wounded in various part-time jobs. his unit at Festubert, south of action on several further When only 16 years old Neuve Chapelle in March 1915. occasions. At the cessation of (or 14, depending on his actual Soon after this his unit was hostilities he returned to London date of birth) he enlisted in the ordered north to Ypres and within where he married Elsie in 1919. on days Issy Smith would earn his Finding it difficult to return to 2 September 1904, and anglicised Victoria Cross. On the morning of peacetime life, he and his family his name to Issy Smith at the 26 April, during an attack by the moved back to Melbourne in suggestion of the Recruiting Indian Brigade, of which the 1st 1925. Three years later he was Sergeant. He served with the Manchesters were a part, his unit working for British International 2nd Battalion, the Manchester came under sustained machine- Pictures and soon after became Regiment, at Aldershot, known gun and artillery fire – both high a Justice of the Peace. During the as the home of the , explosive and gas. Despite this Great Depression he worked for and with the 3rd Manchesters in maelstrom of fire, Smith ‘went the Dunlop Rubber Company as a South Africa before extended forward towards the enemy’s commercial traveller and his final service in India with the 1st position to assist a severely job was at Essendon Airport Manchesters, from 1906 to 1912. wounded man, whom he carried where he worked for the Civil After eight years service he took a distance of 250 yards to safety Aviation Department. A his discharge and returned to whilst exposed the whole time prominent member of the Jewish England. Soon after his return he to heavy machine-gun and rifle community in Victoria, he died at decided to try his prospects in fire’.19 He continued to bring his home in Moonee Ponds aged Australia. When war broke out wounded men in, all the time 52 and was buried with full he was living in Ascot Vale with under intense enemy fire. military honours in the Jewish his girlfriend Elsie Porteous section of Fawkner Cemetery. McKechnie, who accompanied him from England.

19 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 23 August 1915.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 29 William John Symons

illiam Symons was born Having captured substantial After a brief training period he Date of birth at Eaglehawk, north of sections of the Turkish frontline departed Australia for a second 10 July 1889 W Bendigo in 1889 to William and trenches on 6 and 7 August, the time on 3 June 1916, with the Mary Emma Symons. His father Australians had to defend these rank of Captain as Company Place of birth died when he was 15 and soon gains against intense enemy Commander, ‘D’ Company, Eaglehawk, Victoria after the family moved to counter-attacks. On the morning 37th Battalion, aboard HMAT Brunswick, Melbourne. He of 9 August Symons’ battalion Persic. Arriving in England in late Date of death worked as a commercial traveller Commander, the famous Harold July, his battalion trained in 24 June 1948 and was a long-serving member ‘Pompey’ Elliott, is reputed to have England for several months before of the militia, spending five years told Symons that he did not landing in France in November. Place of death in the 5th Battalion and then expect to see him again but that They spent the bitterly cold winter London, England another three years in the ‘we must not lose that post’.20 of 1916–17 on the Somme and 60th Battalion. On 17 August Symons led the charge on Jacob’s Symons was wounded during a 1914, only weeks after the Trench and repelled the Turks, large-scale trench raid on outbreak of war, Symons killing several of them with his 27 February 1917. The unit fought enlisted in Carlton and, due revolver. They returned in greater its first major battle at Messines to his previous military service, numbers and Symons and his in early June 1917. On 7 June, was immediately made Colour men drove them back again. Symons was badly gassed and Sergeant of A Company, 7th Eventually, as his citation states, had to be hospitalised in England Battalion. Two months later, on ‘his coolness and determination for several months to recover, not 19 October 1914, the 7th Battalion finally compelled the enemy to returning to action until January left Port Melbourne on board the discontinue their attacks’.21 1918. As with the rest of the AIF, HMAT Hororata. Suffering from gastroenteritis, the 37th was involved in the fight After further training in Egypt, Symons was evacuated to hospital to repel the German Spring the 7th sailed to Lemnos, in on Lemnos and eventually to Offensive and Symons fought at preparation for the landing at London where he received his Dernancourt in March. While on Gallipoli. The was in Victoria Cross from King George V leave in England in August he the second wave and landed after on 4 December 1915. In March married Isobel Annie Hockley in the beach had been secured. After 1916, he returned to Melbourne Hampshire and on 16 August they being ashore for less than a day where he was given a rousing sailed on the SS Makura bound Symons was promoted to 2nd welcome at public receptions in for Melbourne. Lieutenant. The 2nd Brigade Brunswick and Bendigo. The next Symons returned to live in moved to Cape Helles only days month he was sent to Seymour to England in 1922 and became a later to take part in the attack on join the 37th Battalion, a newly director of various companies. Krithia, and suffered serious formed unit that was to be part of He and his wife settled on losses there. They were then the 10th Brigade, 3rd Division. Hayling Island in Hampshire and moved back to Anzac Cove and had three daughters. During the August found them embroiled in Second World War Symons the Battle of Lone Pine, where commanded the 12th Battalion, four members of the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Home Guard. He received Victoria Crosses. died of a brain tumour in 1948.

20 adb.anu.edu.au/biography/symons-william-john-8736 21 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 15 October 1915

30 ‹ Anzac Centenary 2014 – 2018 Frederick Harold Tubb

rederick Tubb was born in Three days after this promotion, After spending time with his Date of birth 1881 at Longwood, a small he was involved in the bitter family, he convinced an army 28 November 1881 F town between Seymour and fighting at Lone Pine and, along medical review board that he was Euroa in Victoria, and went to with Burton and fit enough to return to service and Place of birth East Longwood State School. His Dunstan, performed the deeds on 2 October 1916 he left Longwood, Victoria parents, Harry and Eliza Tubb, that saw them all receive the Melbourne on HMAT Nestor. had been born in England and Victoria Cross. Turkish forces He was finally removed from the Date of death his father was the headmaster launched a concerted attack to ‘struck off’ list on 23 December 20 September 1917 at East Longwood. He had a keen drive the Australians from the 1916 and, after attending the interest in farming and military newly captured section of trench 4th Army School and being Place of death service and served in various held by Tubb and his company. promoted to Major, rejoined his Passchendaele, Belgium militia units, including the Assisted by Burton and Dunstan, battalion on 2 May 1917. During Victorian Mounted Rifles, the Tubb valiantly held back the Turks the , the Australian Light Horse and, despite the shower of bombs 2nd Brigade was attacking along in 1913, the 58th Battalion which rained down on the trio. the Menin Road, Belgium. After (Essendon Rifles). Three weeks Each time their defences were the 5th and 6th Battalions had after war broke out, he enlisted blown apart they rebuilt them and taken their objectives, the in the AIF and was posted to fought the attackers off. His 7th passed through to assault the Headquarters Company, Victoria Cross citation states that third objective. Tubb was hit by 7th Battalion as a Lieutenant ‘Tubb, although wounded in the rifle fire and seriously wounded. (Transport Officer). His brother head and arm, held his ground He was evacuated to the Frank was in the same company with the greatest coolness and 3rd Canadian General Hospital as a Transport Sergeant. After rebuilt [the barricade] and finally in Boulogne but died of his a brief training period the unit succeeded in maintaining his wounds. He was buried in the departed from Port Melbourne position under heavy bomb fire’.22 Lijessenthoek military cemetery, aboard HMAT Hororata, on Tubb was evacuated to hospital Poperinghe, Belgium. He is 19 October 1914. on Malta because of the severity remembered in the Euroa Avenue Tubb joined his battalion at of his wounds and a week later of Honour and a nearby hill is Gallipoli on 10 July 1915 and was transferred to England. It was now called Tubb Hill. Three of promoted to Captain a month later. decided that his injury needed his brothers also served with extended rehabilitation and he the AIF, and all of them returned departed for Australia aboard to Australia. HT Baltic on 4 March 1916.

22 Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 15 October 1915.

Victoria’s World War One Legacy Recipients of the Victoria Cross › 31 Bibliography

Robert Matthew Beatham Page 6 Percy Herbert Cherry Page 11 www.awm.gov.au/people/8225.asp www.awm.gov.au/people/541.asp www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=17623 www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?key=CHERRY/PH/1023 adb.anu.edu.au/biography/beatham-robert-matthew-5170 adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cherry-percy-herbert-5576 recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1935325 recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1935348 Wigmore, Lionel in collaboration with Harding, Bruce (2nd Edition, revised Wigmore, Lionel in collaboration with Harding, Bruce (2nd Edition, revised and condensed by Jeff Williams & Anthony Staunton), They Dared Mightily, and condensed by Jeff Williams & Anthony Staunton), They Dared Mightily, Canberra: , 1986, pp. 31–32 Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1986, pp. 48–50.

Frederick Birks Page 7 Thomas Cooke Page 12 www.awm.gov.au/people/8228.asp www.awm.gov.au/people/543.asp www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=23232 www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?key=COOKE/T/3055 adb.anu.edu.au/biography/birks-frederick-5242 adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cooke-thomas-5766 recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1935326 recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1935349 Wigmore, Lionel in collaboration with Harding, Bruce (2nd Edition, revised Wigmore, Lionel in collaboration with Harding, Bruce (2nd Edition, revised and condensed by Jeff Williams & Anthony Staunton), They Dared Mightily, and condensed by Jeff Williams & Anthony Staunton), They Dared Mightily, Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1986, pp. 32–33 Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1986, pp. 50–51.

Albert Borella Page 8 William Thomas Dartnell Page 13 www.awm.gov.au/people/8231/ www.awm.gov.au/people/547.asp www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=27245 adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dartnell-william-thomas-5887 adb.anu.edu.au/biography/borella-albert-chalmers-5296 www.hellfirecorner.co.uk/dartnell.htm recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1935330 Wigmore, Lionel in collaboration with Harding, Bruce (2nd Edition, revised Wigmore, Lionel in collaboration with Harding, Bruce (2nd Edition, revised and condensed by Jeff Williams & Anthony Staunton), They Dared Mightily, and condensed by Jeff Williams & Anthony Staunton), They Dared Mightily, Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1986, pp. 54–55. Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1986, pp. 36–37. 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Acknowledgements

The compilation of this publication was greatly assisted by: Dr Adrian Threlfall, Historian Brigid James, Writers Reign Cover Image: Members of the 15th Reinforcements, 21st Battalion, on a wharf at Port Melbourne before embarking on the troopship HMAT Shropshire, 1916 Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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