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REMEMBERING Lieutenant Colonel Henry William Murray, VC, CMG, DSO*, DCM, C. De G. London Gazette 10th May, 1917 On the 4/5 February 1917, at Stormy Trench North East of Gueudencourt, France, Captain H. W. Murray was awarded the VICTORIA CROSS for the most conspicious VALOUR in command of an Infantry company, leading his Company with skill and courage quickly captured the enemy position, then beating back three enemy counter attacks, encouraging his men, leading bombing raids on the enemy positions, leading bayonet charges on the enemy and carrying the wounded to safety. This was Lt Col Murray’s highest award in the war of 1914 - 1918. Lt Col Murray was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order (twice), the Distinguished Conduct Medal (awarded as a Lance Corporal in 1915), he was also awarded the French Croix De Guerre, along with 6 Mention’s in despatches, Lt Col Murray also served in WWII on Home Service. In May 1919 he was also made a Companion of the order of St Michael and St George for services to the Australian Army during WWI. Lt Col Murray was one of the very few enlisted men to rise from the rank of Private Soldier, machine gunner to Lt Col of the 13th Infantry Battalion as its’ Commanding Officer in a period of three and a half years. Lt Col Murray was born at Launceston, Tasmania on 30th December 1884, in his early years he did six years Military training with the Launceston Artillery. At the time of his enlistment on 13th October 1914 he was listed as a timber-getter. After his award of the DCM he was promoted from L/Cpl to Sgt to 2nd Lieutenant on one day, (13th Aug 1915) taking command of the Machine Platoon of his Battalion. Lt Col Murray emerged from WWI as Australia’s most highly Decorated Serviceman,
followed only by Lt J. Maxwell, VC, MC*, DCM (* denotes Bar to MC) The first Victoria Cross awarded to an Australian was awarded on GALLIPOLI at a small out-post called “COURTNEYS POST” on the 19-20 May 1915 to Lance Corporal Albert Jacka, his citation for that action is as follows; CITATION (London Gazette: 24th July 1915) Albert Jacka was born on 10 January 1893 on a dairy farm at Winchelsea Victoria. After leaving school he worked for the Victorian State Forest Department. He enlisted in the A.I.F. on 8th September 1914 at Heathcote, a country town in Victoria. His enlistment papers were lost and he had to again enlist in Melbourne on the 18th September 1914. Jacka was appointed Lance Corporal on 27th August 1915, being promoted to Corporal the very next day, being promoted again on 12th September 1915 to Sergeant, and then promoted to Company Sergeant Major (WO Class2) on 14th November 1915. All promotions being field promotions on Gallipoli. Jacka was promoted to 2 Lt on 29th April 1916, and he was awarded the Military Cross (M.C.) on 7th August 1916 at POZIERS France. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 18th August 1916, and promoted for the last time to Captain on the 15th March 1917. On 7th April 1917 he received a Bar (Second Award) to his Military Cross. In late 1917 he was wounded by a snipers bullet and spent some months in England recovering, returning to his battalion in early 1918 at POLYGON WOOD on the Western Front. Captain Jacka commanded his battalion which became known as 'Jacka’s Mob'. Jacka was gassed in the front trenches and returned to England to recover, returning to Australia, after almost two years in hospital, in 1920. All told, Jacka was recommended for the V.C. three times, receiving the V.C. the M.C. and Bar. He rose from the rank of Lance Corporal to Captain acting Battalion Commander in the same battalion over a four year period. After discharge he became the Mayor of St Kilda, an outer suburb of Melbourne. He died on 17th January 1932 at age 39 years, as a result of his war wounds. His last words on his death bed to his father were “I’M STILL FIGHTING DAD”. He was buried with full Military Honors at St Kilda Cemetery two days later. The inscription on his grave stone reads: CAPTAIN ALBERT JACKA, V.C., M.C. and Bar, 14th Battalion A.I.F. The first
V.C. in the Great War 1914-18. A gallant soldier. An honored citizen. Conspicuous bravery does not always come in the form of the use of a rifle and bayonet in charging enemy positions or by the taking of trenches by grenade or machine gun. In some cases the bravery has been in a form of total self sacrifice for the benefit of others, thus was the case of the award of the V.C. to Private William Jackson. Citation. London Gazette: 9th September 1916. For most conspicuous bravery. On the return from a successful raid, several members of the raiding party were seriously wounded in No Mans Land by shell fire. Private Jackson got back safely and after handing over a prisoner he had brought in, immediately went out again under heavy shell fire and assisted in bringing in a second wounded man. He went out again with a Sergeant, bringing in another wounded man when his arm was blown off by a shell, the Sergeant being rendered unconscious. He then returned to our trenches, obtained assistance and went out again, looking for his two wounded comrades. He set a splendid example of pluck and determination. His work has always been marked by the greatest coolness and bravery. It should be known that when Pte Jackson carried out this most conspicuous act of bravery he was only 18 years of age, and was the youngest known member of the A.I.F. at the time, and was the youngest member of the A.I.F. 1914-1918) to receive the Victoria Cross. William Jackson was born at GUNBAR near HAY NSW on 13th September 1897. Until his enlistment he lived and worked on the family farm at MERRIWA NSW. He enlisted on the 20th February 1915 at 17 years, 5 months and one week of age, being posted to the 17th Battalion, and landing at Gallipoli on the 20th August 1915. He was then posted to the Sinai Desert until being posted to France on the 6th March 1916 where he was awarded the Victoria Cross. After his return to Australia in 1917, William Jackson held a number of jobs such as hotel keeper, green grocer and clerk finally being employed as Commissionaire for the Melbourne City Council. William Jackson was badly injured in a motor vehicle accident whilst driving in 1946. William Jackson V.C. attended the Bi-centenary V.C. parade in London in 1956 as part of the Australian contingent. He died in the R.G.H. at Heidelberg, Victoria on 4th August 1959 aged 62 years.
16th March 1943, on Salamaua Isthmus, New Guinea. (Posthumous Award) Citation: Flight Lieutenant Newton served with No 22 Squadron RAAF in New Guinea from may 1942 to march 1943 and completed 52 operational sorties. Throughout, he displayed great courage and determination to inflict the utmost damage on the enemy. His splendid offensive flying and fighting were attended with brilliant success. Disdaining evasive tactics when under the heaviest of fire, he always went straight to his objective. He carried out many daring machine gun attacks on enemy positions involving low flying over long distances in the face of of continuous fire at point blank range. On three occasions, he dived through intense anti-aircraft fire to release his bombs on important targets on the Salamaua Isthmus. On one of these occasions, his starboard engine failed over the target, but he succeeded in flying back to an airfield 160 miles (260 Klms) away. When leading attack on an objective on March 16, 1943, he dived through intense and accurate shell fire and his aircraft was hit repeatedly. Never the less he held to his course and bombed his target from low level. The attack resulted in destruction of many buildings and dumps, including two 40,000 gallon (182,000 litre) fuel installations. Although his aircraft was crippled, with fuselage and wing sections torn, petrol tanks pierced, main planes and engines seriously damaged, and one of the tyres flat, Flight Lieutenant Newton managed to fly back to base and make a successful landing. Despite this harassing experience, he returned to the same location the next day, his target this time was a single building even more difficult, but he came in an attacked with his usual courage and resolution, flying a steady course through a barrage of fire. He scored a hit on the building, but at the same time his aircraft burst into flames. Flight Lieutenant Newton maintained control and calmly turned his aircraft away and flew along the shore. He saw it as his duty to keep the aircraft in the air as long as he could so as to take his crew as far away from the enemy as he possibly could. With great skill, he brought his blazing aircraft down in the water. two members of the crew were able to extract themselves and were seen swimming to the shore, but the gallant pilot is missing. According to other aircrews who witnessed the occurrence, his escape hatch was not opened and his dinghy was not inflated. without regard to his own safety, he had done all that a man could to prevent his crew from falling into enemy hands. Flight Lieutenant Newton's many examples of conspicuous bravery have rarely been equaled and will serve as a shining inspiration to all who follow him. (London Gazette: 19th October, 1943) This could have been the end of the matter as far as history is concerned, but there was a twist to this story that was not discovered until after the end of World War II. On that flight of March 16, 1943 were the following crew members: Flight Sergeant J Lyon; Sergeant BG Eastwood; and Flight Lieutenant Newton. After the Boston bomber crashed into the sea, it was presumed that the two crew members that swam to the shore were Lyon and Eastwood. This was not the case, the two were in fact Newton and Lyon, Eastwood having perished in the aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Newton was not dead and was therefore awarded the Victoria Cross whilst still alive. Newton and Lyon were captured by members of the Japanese Number 5 Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force. Both were taken to Lae where Lyon and Newton were separated, Lyon being taken away and beheaded. Newton was ordered to be taken back to Salamaua by the Japanese Commander, Rear Admiral Fujita. There he was beheaded by Naval Sub-lieutenant Komai on March 29, 1943, 13 days after being shot down, and in front of those he had bombed on March 16, 1943. Sub-lieutenant Komai was later killed in action by American Forces in the Philippines, Rear Admiral Fujita committed suicide at the war's end, rather than be tried for war crimes. William Ellis Newton was born on June 8, 1919 at St Kilda, Victoria. He attended Melbourne Grammar School where he was a Sergeant of the School Cadets. After leaving school he worked in a city warehouse until his call up in 1940. He trained as a pilot and spent some time as an instructor, being posted to No 22 Squadron in May, 1942. Flight Lieutenant Newton's portrait hangs in the War Memorial in Canberra. Both his brothers served in WW II and both survived. His mother, Mrs Minnie Newton, attended the VC Centenary celebrations in London in 1956. After the war his body was exhumed from its un-marked grave and was re-buried in the Salamaua War Cemetery.
The GC is the highest award that can be bestowed upon a person for gallantry in any circumstance whilst not involved in combat with an enemy. It can be awarded to both civilians and military service personnel. The GC was announced by His Majesty King George VI on September 23, 1940. The George Cross is awarded for “Acts of the greatest heroism or the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of great danger”. Lt Commander Leon Verdi GOLDSWORTHY GC* DSC** GM*** MID**** ( * George Cross ** Distinguished Service Cross *** George Medal **** Mention In Dispatches) CITATION For skill and courage of a high order during a series of mine recovery extending from the 12th June 1943 to the 10th April 1944, which led to the recovery of four German ground mines, three magnetic mines, and one acoustic mine. (London Gazette, 19th September 1944) The citation is very short and only covers the period of time (10 months) of this officer's service in mine delousing, although there were many exploits undertaken by this officer. His first decoration, the GM, was awarded for making safe a German parachute mine that had lay on a barge in the River Thames for two years. The second decoration, the MID, was awarded for a series of mine defusing over a period of time. The DSC was awarded for stripping and defusing a German “K” mine in 50 feet of water in Cherbourg Harbour in 1945, just before war's end. Leon Goldsworthy was born on 19th January 1909 at Broken Hill NSW. At the outbreak of World War II he tried to join the RAN but was rejected due to his slight build and small stature. In 1941 the RAN requested he apply for enlistment in the RANVR, which he did and was sworn in on 24th March 1941. within 2 months he was sent to England where he joined other Australian RANVR members on mine defusing duties. Some of the other Australians at HMS Vernon (The mines school) were Lt George Gosse GC RANVR, Lt George John Mould GC RANVR, Lt Hugh Syme GC GM & Bar RANVR. After the war Lt Goldsworthy returned to civilian life as a factory manager of an electric sign business. His portrait hangs in the War Memorial in Canberra. Sergeant Donald Forrester BROWN VC CITATION For most conspicuous bravery and determination in attack when the Company to which he belonged suffered very heavy casualties in officers and men from machine gun fire. At great personal risk he advanced with a comrade and succeeded in reaching a point within 30 yards (27 metres) of the enemy guns. Four of the crew were killed and the gun captured. The advance of the Company was continued till it was again held up by machine gun fire. Again Sgt. Brown and his comrade with great gallantry rushed the gun and killed the crew. After this second position had been won, the Company came under very heavy shell fire, and the utter contempt for danger and coolness under fire of this NCO did much to keep up the spirit of his men. On subsequent occasions in the attack, Sgt. brown showed most conspicuous gallantry. He attacked single-handed a machine gun which was holding up the attack, killed the crew and captured the gun, later whilst sniping the retreating enemy, this very gallant soldier was killed. Lieutenant Frank Hubert McNAMARA VC CITATION For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during an aerial bomb attack upon a hostile construction train, when one of the pilots was forced down behind enemy lines. Lt. McNamara observing the pilot’s predicament and the fact that hostile cavalry were approaching , descended to his rescue. He did this under heavy enemy fire and in spite of the fact that he himself had been severely wounded in the thigh. He landed about 200 yards from the damaged machine, the pilot of which climbed onto the wing of the machine, an attempt was made to rise, owing, however to his disabled leg Lt. McNamara was unable to keep his machine straight and it turned over. The two officers having extricated themselves, immediately set fire to the machine and made their way over to the first damaged machine which they managed to start. Although weak, due to the loss of blood, Lt. McNamara flew the machine 70 miles to his base, thus completing his mission of rescue. Frank H McNamara was born at Rushworth, Victoria on April 4, 1894, the son of a civil servant in the Victorian Lands Department. He studied at Shepparton and entered Teachers Training College and the University of Melbourne, becoming a school teacher at Princes Hill, Melbourne. He was a school cadet and later joined the Brighton Rifles, (46th Infantry Battalion) being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1913. He attended Point Cook on a course of Military Aeronautics, being posted to 1 Sqn. AFC as Adjutant. After being awarded the VC in 1917 he was returned to Australia as an instructor. He remained as a member of the Permanent forces after World War I. In 1921 upon the formation of the RAAF he was given the rank of Flight Lieutenant. By the time of the start of World War II he was an Air Commodore, promoted again in 1942 to Air Vice Marshal. After World War II he remained in the RAAF until retirement in 1947. He died in London on November 2, 1961 at the age of 67 years. Air Vice Marshal F H McNamara VC CBE CB was buried in Buckinghamshire UK. Lieutenant Arthur Seaforth Blackburn VC CMG CBE CITATION For most conspicuous bravery. He was directed with fifty men to drive the enemy from a stronghold. By dogged determination he eventually captured their trench after personally leading four separate parties of bombers against it, many of whom became casualties. In face of fierce opposition he captured 250 yards of trench, then after crawling with a sergeant to econnoiter, he returned, attacked and seized another 120 yards of trench, establishing communications with the battalion on his left. (London Gazette: September 9, 1916) Arthur Blackburn was one of those soldiers to whom nothing was seen as impossible. One of a very few to enter the AIF as a Private soldier, serve in two World Wars and retire at the rank of Brigadier, dying of old age on November 24, 1960. He was awarded the Victoria Cross; Companion of The Order of St Michael and St George; and Commander of The Order of The British Empire. Arthur Blackburn was born at Woodville, South Australia, on November 25, 1892, the son of Canon T Blackburn, Rector of St Margarets Church, Woodville. He Joined the 10th Battalion on August 19, 1914, his regimental number being No 31, and was posted to A Company as a Private soldier. He landed at ANZAC cove as an infantry platoon member, his only orders being “ and and go like hell to the third ridge”. He and another Private, Phil Robin, a close mate, went further than that. “We went 2000 yards” he quoted after the evacuation, but his mate Phil Robin was killed later that afternoon. A few days later Arthur was appointed Lance Corporal. On August 4, 1915, Arthur was appointed 2nd Lieutenant as a Platoon Commander in A Company. After the evacuation he was promoted to Lieutenant on February 20, 1916, and on August 1, 1916 he was promoted to Captain. Due to ill health, he was evacuated to London for hospitalisation, and whilst there he received his VC from King George V. Blackburn was evacuated back to Australia due to his medical condition and was retired from the AIF on April 10, 1917. In 1921, having recovered from his war illness he enlisted in the 43rd Battalion CMF. By 1939, following 18 years service, and at the age of 47 years, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel as Commander of the 2/3 Machine Gun Battalion, following which he saw service in Syria. In June 1941, as part of the 7th Division, his battalion was withdrawn to defend Java from the Japanese invasion. Upon being promoted to Brigadier, he commanded a force known as "Blackforce". The unit, having run out of ammunition and supplies, was forced to surrender on March 12, 1942. Blackburn spent his time as a prisoner of war in Singapore, Japan, and Korea, finally being liberated in Manchuria in 1945 at the age of 53 years. He had married Rose Ada Kelly in 1917 on his return from World War I, they had two sons, both of whom served as Captains during World War II in the 2nd AIF. Private Thomas James Bede Kenny VC CITATION For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when his platoon was held up by an enemy strong point, and severe casualties were preventing progress. Pte Kenny, under very heavy fire at close range, dashed alone towards the enemy’s position and killed one man in advance of the strong point who endeavoured to bar his path. He bombed the position capturing the gun crew, all of whom had been wounded, killed an officer who showed fight, and seized the gun. Pte Kenny’s gallant action enabled his platoon to occupy the position which was of great local importance. (London Gazette, 8th June 1917) Thomas Kenny was one of those characters who became a well known figure within the AIF. He was a large man of 6 foot 4 inches (198 centimeters) in height, and even on trench rations weighed in at 20 stone (127 kilograms). He was known for his big grin and sense of humour, and in four years rose to the rank of Corporal. The story goes that on one occasion he was leaving a canteen, in darkness, after a few drinks, and heard the sound of baying sheep. The only person to be seen was an English sergeant. Believing that the Australian soldier was being insulted by this English noise maker imitating a sheep, the fists started flying, the English sergeant getting the worst end of it all. Kenny, whilst walking away, then spied, not only a small lamb, but also a small goat tethered near a hedge. Both animals quickly disappeared never to be seen again, however, it is said that the Company ate well that night. Kenny was evacuated to England in June 1917 with trench feet. While ecovering he was reading the paper with a friend and said “there is a bloke here in the paper with the same name as mine who has been awarded the VC", a few minutes later he was ordered to report to the AIF HQ where he was informed that he had been awarded the VC. He had no idea that he had even been recommended for anything for his actions on the 9th April that year. He returned to his unit in France and was wounded on 26th August 1918 and evacuated to Australia, being discharged on 12th December 1918. After the war he became a travelling salesman and was well known to all he met. He was described as a likeable man who was known to enjoy a drink with mates. After World War I until his death, he was a known figure in Sydney’s ANZAC day march each year where he marched with his battalion mates. He was only 57 years old when he died in Concord Repatriation Hospital on 15th April 1953. As a mark of respect for this well loved soldier, the 'Bede Kenny memorial ward' was set up at the Wentworth Private Hospital, Randwick, to provide beds for old soldiers who were not eligible for treatment in the Re-Pat hospitals. MAXWELL, Lieutenant Joseph 18th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF 3rd October 1918, Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line, near Estrées, North of St. Quentin CITATION: For most conspicuous bravery and leadership in attack on Beaurevoir-Fonsomme line near Estrées, north of St. Quentin, on the 3rd October 1918. His company commander was severely wounded early in the advance, and Lieutenant Maxwell at once took charge. The enemy wire when reached under intense fire was found to be exceptionally strong and closely supported by machine guns, whereupon Lieutenant Maxwell pushed forward single-handed through the wire and captured the most dangerous gun, killing three and capturing four enemy. He thus enabled his company to penetrate the wire and reach the objective. Later, he again pushed forward and silenced, single handed, a gun which was holding up a flank company. Subsequently, when with two men only he attempted to capture a strong party of the enemy, he handled a most involved situation very skillfully, and it was due to his resource that he and his comrades escaped. Throughout the day Lieutenant Maxwell set a high example of personal bravery, coupled with excellent judgement and quick decision. (London Gazette: 6th January, 1919.) Lt 'Joe' Maxwell as he was known to his troops emerged from WWI as the second highest decorated Australian soldier of the war. By war's end, he had been awarded the following decorations: Victoria Cross, Military Cross and Bar, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Joe Maxwell was born at Forest Lodge NSW, a suburb of Sydney, on February 10, 1896. Prior to his enlistment in the Army on February 6, 1915, at age nineteen, he was an apprentice in Newcastle NSW. Joe was posted to the 18th Infantry Battalion on June 24, 1915, and remained with that battalion until the end of the war. He landed on Gallipoli beach on August 18, 1915, and remained until the evacuation when the battalion was posted to France on March 16, 1916. In October 1916, he was promoted to Sergeant and in August 1917, to Sergeant-Major. On September 25, 1917, he was awarded the DCM during the third Battle of Ypres. He had taken the place of a Platoon Commander that had been killed and led that platoon during fierce fighting. Four days later he commissioned as a 2Lt, following which on January 1, 1918, he was promoted to Lieutenant. In March 1918, he was awarded the MC, the following day he was awarded the Bar to the MC, and on October 3, 1918, he was awarded the VC. Joe Maxwell was known to be a wild soldier. Had he not had problems with both the military police and the civilian police when he was on leave, it is said that he may well have been promoted at a faster rate. In one instance in Cairo, in the famous Battle of the “Wazir”, where the local dancing girls displeased a group of diggers in a house of ill fame, a piano was hurled out of a second story window. In another, Maxwell had been selected to go of Officer's Training School in England, he got no further than the bright lights of London. Attending a boisterous party, he and a group were confronted by military police in a raid. The result was the military police called for assistance from the local police, Maxwell was fined £20 ($57), and sent back to his unit. After the war, Maxwell returned to civilian life and worked at a number of jobs in NSW and the ACT. In 1932 he and a friend, Hugh Buggy, wrote a book about his WWI exploits aptly named “Hells, Bells and Mademoiselles”. The book sold well and is regarded as an outstanding war book. At the outbreak of WWII, at the age of 43 years, he tried to enlist in NSW and the ACT by lowering his age and changing his name, but he was well known. He then went to Qld where, using an alias, he enlisted as a Private. He was soon discovered and sent as an instructor to a Training Battalion where his knowledge and experience was put to good use training young recruits. Following WWII, Joe quietly retired to Bondi NSW. He died on July 6,
1967, of a sudden heart attack at Matraville NSW where he had lived for
several years. STARCEVICH Private Leslie Thomas VC 2143rd Australian Infantry Battalion,AIF 28th June 1945, in Borneo CITATION: Private L Starcevich was a member of 2143rd Australian Infantry Battalion during the capture of Beaufort, North Borneo. During the approach along a thickly wooded spur, the enemy was encountered at a position where movement off the single track leading into the enemy defences was difficult and hazardous. When the leading section cam under fire from two enemy machine?gun posts and suffered casualties, Private Starcevich, who was Bren gunner, moved forward and assaulted each post, firing his Bren gun from the hip, killed five enemy and put the remaining occupants of the posts to flight. The advance progressed until the section came under fire from two more machine?gun posts which halted the section temporarily. Private Starcevich again advanced fearlessly firing his Bren gun from the hip and ignoring the hostile fire captured both posts single?handed, disposing of seven enemy. These daring efforts enabled the Company to increase the momentum of its attack and so relieve pressure on another Company which was attacking from another direction. The outstanding gallantry of Private Starcevich in carrying out these attacks single?handed with complete disregard of his own personal safety resulted in the decisive of the action. (London Gazette: 8th November 1945.) This action occurred in the 9th Division's campaign in British North Borneo, which began with landings at Labuan Island, and in the Brunei Bay area, on June 10 1945. There was little opposition to the 20th Brigade which landed in the south of Brunei Bay and by the 12th had advanced to Brunei Town, the 24th Brigade experienced hard fighting, in which the 2143rd shared, before Labuan was cleared on the 21st. The plan next called mainland landings on the northern reaches of Brunei Bay and a drive on Beaufort, a terminus of the railway lines from Weston and Jessleton. The first landing was made by 2/32nd Battalion Group at Weston on June 23. Two days later, the northern arm of the drive, consisting of the 2/43rd with artillery, commandos and engineers, landed at Mempakul. Another company of the 2/43rd landed at Sabang on June 23. In the resultant converging on Beaufort of these forces there occurred the action which resulted in Starcevich's award. The attack by the 2143rd on Beaufort began on the afternoon of the 27th and by dusk one company,had advanced into the town itself. The Japanese counter?attacked during the night, the battalion became heavily committed, and the company in Beaufort became isolated. "B" Company was ordered forward to its aid. It was for his actions during the advance on the 28th that Starcevich was awarded the Victoria Cross. By the 29th the fight was virtually over. The attack on Beaufort cost the 24th Brigade seven killed and thirty eight wounded; ninety?three Japanese were killed. Leslie Thomas Starcevich ("Starcey") was born in Subiaco (Western Australia) on September 5 1918. After leaving Richmeadows School, Grass Patch, he worked on his father's farm until his nineteenth year, then became a gold miner at Norseman. He enlisted in the AIF on April 9 1941, embarked at Fremantle on September 9 and on December 30 joined the 2/43rd Battalion. The battalion was posted to Syria for garrison duties the following month, and remained there until the end of June. Returning then to the Western Desert, the unit shared in the fighting at Tel el Eisa and in the Battle of EI Alamein. Starcevich was wounded on July 17. Back in Australia in February 1943, the 2143rd went to Queensland. It
left in September for New Guinea, where it joined in the fighting at Lae
and Finschhafen. The battalion returned to Australia in January 1944,
remained in North Queensland until April 1945, then set out for the Borneo
campaign. Grieve, Captain Robert Cuthbert 37th Australian
Infantry Battalion, AIF 7th June 1917 Kenna, Private Edward 214th Australian Infantry
Battalion, AIF Date: May 15 1945 MOON, Lieutenant Rupert Vance 58th Australian Infantry Battalion, 15th Brigade, 5th Division, AIF Citation: For most conspicuous bravery during an attack
on an enemy strong point. His own immediate objective was a position in
advance of the hostile trench, and thence against the hostile trench itself,
after the capture of which it was intended his men should co-operate in
a Moon had various jobs between the wars. First he worked in Malaya as
assistant manager of a rubber plantation. He then worked as a bookkeeper
and jackeroo on a property near Corowa, New south Wales, before returning
to the National Bank. After holding posts in various branches, including
North Melbourne and Foster, he became an accountant with the Geelong firm
of Denny Lascelles. Later he was its managing director until he retired
in 1960 although he remained a director until 1975. On December 18 1931
he married Susan Alison May Vincent and they had one son and one daughter.
He served with the Volunteer Defence Corps during the 1939-45 war. On
September 9 1942 he was appointed captain in the 6th Victorian Battalion
and posted as assistant of the South West Group from January 1943 until
September 1944. He lived at Calder Park, Mount Duneed, and then Barwon
Heads, Victoria. A portrait by WB McInnes hangs in the Australian War
Memorial’s Hall of Valour. The RV Moon Soldier’s Club at the
1st Battalion INWOOD - Private Reginald Roy19th - 22nd
September 1917, at Polygon Wood, East of Ypres, Belgium Reginald Inwood, known as Roy,, a miner, was e of the first contingent of Broken Hill (New South Wales) residents to leave that large mining centre for the war. He had been born in North Adelaide on July 14 1890, the eldest son of Edward Inwood, and educated at North Adelaide Public School and the Broken Hill Model School. He was one of three brothers who served in the war. Robert ? also of the 10th - was at Pozieres when he was killed on July 24 1916. Harold was wounded in France and returned to Australia in November 1917. Roy enlisted on August 24 1914 and was sent to MorphettAlle Camp with the 10th Battalion quota from Broken Hill. He embarked on October 20 and served in Gallipoli, where he became a lance-corporal in 1915. Subsequently, in France, he developed still further his aptitude for scouting. After Polygon Wood, having temporarily reverted to private, he attained the ranks of corporal and sergeant, and remained with the battalion until May 30 1918. Subsequently, he returned to Australia and was discharged on December 12 1918. Roy married Evelyn Owens in 1927, there were no children of the marriage,
and on March 28 1942 he married Louise E Gates and they resided at Norwood,
South Australia. During WW 11 Inwood served as a warrant officer class
two in the 2nd AIF. He died on October 23 1971 in Tara Private Hospital,
South Australia. He left his VC to the 10th Battalion ex?servicemen's
Association who in turn donated it to the Corporation of the City of Adelaide.
The VC is displayed in the Council Chambers. The OR's Mess of the 10th Mactier, Private Robert 23rd Australian
Infantry Battalion, AIF. Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the morning of 1st September 1918, during the attack on the village of Mont St. Quentin. Prior to the advance of the battalion, it was necessary to clear up several enemy strong-points close to our line. This the bombing patrols sent forward failed to effect, and the battalion was unable to move. Private Mactier, single handed, and in daylight ' thereupon jumped out of the trench, rushed past the block, closed with and killed the machinegun garrison of eight men with his revolver and bombs, and threw the enemy machine-gun over the parapet. The, rushing forward about twenty yards, he jumped into another strong?point held by a garrison of six men who immediately surrendered. Continuing to the next block through the trench, he disposed of an enemy machine?gun which had been enfilading our flank advancing troops, and was then killed by another machine?gun at close range. It was entirely due to this exceptional valour and determination of Private Mactier that the battalion was able to move on to its 'jumping offi trench and carry out the successful operation of capturing the village of Mont St. Quentin a few hours later. (London Gazette: 14th December 1918) Mactier's action, which he could hardly have expected to survive, occurred during the 23rd Battalion's attempt to move into position for the early morning assault on Mont St. Quentin, which later had to be temporarily abandoned until St. Quentin had been "softened up" by artillery. The company involved was led by Lieutenant FJ Jenkins, who had the task of leading the 23rd from a position known as Florina Trench to the jumping?off positions Gottlieb and Save Trenches. Jenkins found, by sending out a patrol under Sergeant G Warren, that it should be possible to make a detour through yet another trench - Kholm Trench - to get to their allotted positions without a fight. But by the time this route had been discovered only twenty minutes remained until zero hour. To use the detour would have meant the unit being late for jump off; the only other alternative was to use the direct route, though it was covered by the enemy. Jenkins decided on this route, hoping that it would be possible to clear a way as he progressed. The 23rd therefore jumped out in single file after being relieved in Florina Trench, and commenced to cross the Peronne Road - which cut the northern end of Florina Trench - then back into the trench. No sooner had the advance been resumed after crossing the road than the fighting patrol at the head of the column encountered an enemy machine?gun behind a barbed?wire barricade. Two similar posts could be seen further on. The advance halted. Corporal R Finlay, in charge of the leaders, organised and attack on the first position, but was immediately killed. Meanwhile, when the column halted, Jenkins sent a runner forward to investigate. This runner was Private Mactier. Well armed with a revolver and bombs, he at once ran forward, took in the situation at a glance, and without further ado through the leading patrol, straight up to the barricade. He threw a bomb, climbed over the wire, and watchers then saw the machine?gun topple out of the trench. His comrades then advanced, found the garrison dead, and saw Mactier in the act of capturing all occupants of the next post. Even then he did not stop, but charged the third post, bombing and killing the garrison. By now he had spotted yet another position. In order to attack it and to avoid wire in the trench, he scrambled out into the open and began to run in for his fourth attack. At this time, a gun on his flank swung around and killed him instantly; but thanks to his completely self-sacrificing action the companies of the 23rd filed into their allotted positions , just as the barrage fell on Mont St. Quentin. Robert Mactier was a son of Robert and Christina Mactier of "Rietcam" (Mactier spelt backwards) near Tatura (Victoria). He was born at Tatura on May 17 1890, was educated at the Tatura State School, and afterwards worked on his father's property. He enlisted at Seymour on March 1 1917, was posted to the 23rd and left Australia with other reinforcements for that unit on May 11. On July 20 he disembarked in England and underwent further training before going to France on November 14. He joined the unit on November 23 and remained with it until his death less than a year later. Although Mactier had a comparatively short period of active service, and did not come into prominence until the morning of his remarkable one man offensive at Mont St. Quentin, he died exemplifying as never before the 23rd's motto "Forward Undeterred". His grave is in the Hem Farm Cemetery, Hem Monacu. His sisters, the Misses N and B Mactier, formerly of Geelong (Victoria) represented the family at the VC Centenary in London in 1956. His name is commemorated by the Army in a soldier's club at Watsonia Barracks which was officially opened by the Minister for the Army in May 1960. RYAN, Private John 55th Australian
Infantry Battalion, AIF. 30th September 1918 (London Gazette: 126th December 1918) By mid-September 1918 the British had reached the outer defences of the
Hindenburg Line, and on the 18th the Australian Corps attacked this line
with the 4th and 1st Divisions. It gained all objectives in what became
the swiftest and most complete victory ever won by the Australian infantry.
The next phase consisted of an assault on the main line itself, launched
on 29th September by the 27th and 30th American Divisions. The Americans
fought with great gallantry but were unable to gain their objectives,
which were to have been the jumping ?off positions for the Australian
Corps. The Australians then had to fight their way forward without artillery
support. By 'Ist October they had gained American objectives, and in the
following four days forced their way through the Hindenburg Line to the
Beaurevoir Line ? last of the Hindenburg defences. Afterwards, the Australians
were relieved and were not again committed before the Armistice. About 4.30pm there were indications of another counter-attack, and arrangements were made to meet it this time with artillery fire. The attack did not eventuate, and during the night some further advances were made to consolidate the ground already won. Noon next day saw the brigade in another advance which was carried out with only slight opposition. The 55th remained in position constantly patrolling its front, until relieved on the night of 2nd?3rd October by the 8th Inniskillings. It lost seventyseven killed in its advance in this sector, and other battalions of the division suffered similarly. But the 5th Division had successfully completed its difficult task of penetrating the defences and confronting the final barrier of the Beaurevoir Line. John Ryan was born at Tumut (NSW) in February 1890. He described himself as a labourer when he enlisted at Wagga Wagga , in the Riverina district, on 1st December 1915. He marched the 300 miles to Sydney with a group known as the Kangaroos, to collect recruits en route to the city. Embarking as a reinforcement to 55th battalion on 14th June 1916, Ryan went to the United Kingdom via Egypt. He landed in France early in September and joined the battalion on the 23rd. Apart from one'period in hospital due to illness, he remained with the 55th until he was wounded on 30th September 1918. He rejoined the battalion early in December , but another period in hospital soon followed and he was returned to Australia in September 1919. He was discharged in Sydney on 10th January 1920. Of his life after the war not much is known. It is certain, however,
that circumstances dealt harshly with this gallant soldier, and he moved
about a great deal, mostly in New South Wales and Victoria, seeking a
satisfactory position in civil life. Then came the years of depression
in which his long struggle was greatly intensified, and his health undermined.
Ultimately, in 1935, he became for some years a member of the staff of
an insurance company in Melbourne. He died of pneumonia in the Royal Melbourne
Hospital on 3rd June 1941, and was accorded a full military funeral attended
by eight Victorian VC recipients and many comrades of his war days. He
was survived by two brothers and a sister. Carroll, Private John 33rd Australian
Infantry Battalion AIF. 7th-10th June 1917, at St Ives, France John Carroll was born at Brisbane (Queensland) on August 15 1892, but migrated to Western Australia as a young man. He worked as a labourer in the goldfield town of Kalgoorlie, and nearby Karrawang, until his enlistment on April 27 1916. He was posted to the 44th Battalion, composed mainly of Western Australians. On November 14 1916, however, he transferred to the 33rd, then preparing to leave Larkhill Camp on the Salisbury Plains in England for service in France as part of General Monash's 3rd Division. The Victoria Cross was awarded during the Battle of Messines Ridge, to
which the 33rd was committed from the 7th to 10th June, in a sector on
the extreme right. The unit's advance consisted of capturing three successive
objectives, then mopping up and consolidation. Little opposition was met
in the enemy front line, which was manned by the 4th and 5th Bavarian
JR. The intense barrage had driven most into concrete dug-outs and thus
prevented the manning of machine-guns before the yelling Australians were
in their trench chasing them with bayonets and bombs. It was in this phase
that Carroll bayoneted four of the enemy and captured the one machine-gun
which did come into action. At the second objective ? the enemy support
line - resistance was stiffer, but was no match for the attackers. Another
isolated machine-gun was captured there by a party under Private James.
The third objective - Black Line - offered only token resistance, except
from a post on the right flank. Snipers and Stokes mortars silenced the
position. In the afternoon of the 7th and the following two days and nights,
during the consolidation some attempts at retaliation were made by sniping,
machine-gun fire, some shelling and a raiding party. These activities,
however, were not allowed to interfere with the 33rd's work, and solidly-held
positions were eventually handed over to the relief battalion on the 10th.
This advance was an easy victory for the battalion, but it nevertheless
produced a crop of minor crises and situations of the type best dealt
with by individual resource. Carroll's ceaseless activity, both in the
attack and in handling the other episodes mentioned in his citation, is
a splendid example of such resource. In the battalion's subsequent campaigns, Carroll was twice wounded; firstly
in July 1917 - a month after winning his VC and again in October of that
year. Carroll went to London in 1956 for the VC Centenary celebrations. He
died on October 4 1971 at the Hollywood Repatriation Hospital, Perth,
Western Australia and was buried with full military honours at Karrakatta
Cemetery. His wife had predeceased him. McGEE, Sergeant Lewis 40th Australian Infantry
Battalion AIF. 4th October 1917, East of Ypres, Belgium This was the first of two Victoria Crosses awarded to members of the 40th Battalion. The other was to PC Stratton. The events described occurred during the battalion's participation in the third phase of the Third Battle of Ypres ? the attack on Boodseinde Ridge. The objective of the *,(pres offensive at this time was to clear the Belgium coast and turn the enemy's northern flank, thus capturing a large section of Belgium, and with it the German submarine bases at Zeebrugge and Ostend. Australians had already participated in the first two phases of the offensive, capturing Polygon Wood. In the next stage the 3rd Division attacked the 10th Brigade on the left and the 11th on the right. The new Zealand Division was on the 3rd's left, and the 2nd Australian Division was on the right. On the 10th Brigade front, the 37th Battalion took the first objective;the 38th the second; the 39th the third; and the 40th passed through to seize its part of the final objective on Broodseinde Ridge. "B" and "D" Companies formed the leading waves of the 40th, with "A" Company as moppers?up, and "C" in reserve. The objective [states the Australian historian] lay, on the right, slightly short of the summit of the main ridge, but on the left, just over the crest of the Gravenstafe spur where the Flandern 1 Line (Dab Trench) crossed it. Although this trench was thoroughly broken, and its entanglements passable, withering fire came from both the trench and the quickly?garrisoned pill boxes. Ten machine-guns were firing into the 40th from front and left. The Tasmanians could advance only by rushes, and suffered great loss The situation was critical, but Captain [WCG] Ruddock seized the one chance of outflanking the German position by working the left company round through some half sheltered ground in the New Zealand sector. By opening fire from there he suppressed the Germans in the trench and a series of gallant attacks on those in pill boxes then began ........ The pill-box attacked by McGee lay about fifty yards away across open, fire?swept ground, and those in occupation had a gun set up on the concrete roof. This gun, set in a recess, was firing directly at McGee's company ("B") and bullets were cutting into the series of shell?holes in which the troops were sheltering. McGee left to his feet, revolver in hand, dashed, miraculously unscathed, across the open ground, and descended upon the enemy garrison. A few seconds later the pill?box was out of action, and McGee's comrades were able to move. From then on, however, the advance was a series pill?box fights. Nearly every pillbox was overcome by some act of individual daring. By 9.12am, the 40th was in occupation of its complete objective.So were the New Zealanders on the left, and in fact the whole of 1 and 11 ANZAC Corps. Counter?attacks developed later, of course, but the ground was held, and the victory of Broodseinde was said to have brought the Allies on the Western Front face to face with the possibility of decisive success. Yet in phase four of the battle - the fighting at Passchendaele ? this
opportunity was lost, and the whole plan collapsed in what was regarded
as one of the most terrible conflicts of the war, costing the Allies 260,000
casualties. It was the 40th Battalion's advance during this phase on the
morning of 12th October that Lewis McGee was killed in action. PEELER, Lance-Corporal Walter 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion, AIF. 4th October 1917, at Broodseinde, East of Ypres, Belgium Citation: : For most Conspicuous bravery when with a Lewis gun accompanying the first wave of the assault he encountered an enemy party sniping the advancing troops from a shell hole. Lance-Corporal Peeler immediately rushed the position and accounted for nine of the enemy, and cleared the way for the advance. On two subsequent occasions he performed similar acts of valour, and each time accounted for a number of the enemy. During the operations he was directed to a position from which an enemy machine?gun was being fired on our troops. He located and killed the gunner, and the remainder of the enemy party ran to a dug-out close by. From this shelter they were dislodged by a bomb, and ten of the enemy ran out. These he disposed of This non-commissioned officer actually accounted for over thirty of the enemy. He displayed an absolute fearlessness in making his way ahead of the first wave of the assault, and the fine example which he set ensured the success of the attack against most determined opposition. (London Gazette: 26th November 1917) This was the second Victoria Cross gained during the fight for Broodseinde Ridge, in phase three of the Third Battle of Ypres, the other recipient being Lewis McGee. Peeler was attached to the 37th from his own unit for anti-aircraft duties with his Lewis gunbut as events developed, he actually led the fight at several points during the advance, and the 37th had no hesitation in forwarding an appropriate recommendation to Peeler's Commanding Officer. It was the 37th's task to capture the first objective, and consolidate while the 38th passed through the second. The 40th would then pass through also, to size its section of Broodseinde Ridge. Of the 37th's advance, the unit diarist has provided the following enthusiastic account: "At 5.30am the calm of the night was suddenly broken by the Hun across the Assembly Line. It appeared that our Assembly Line had been discovered but not was his preliminary barrage preparatory to an attack which he contemplated making over the ground recently captured from him. Information later obtained from prisoners showed that our attack anticipated [his} by only a quarter of an hour. During this barrage which was extremely ineffective we suffered few casualties That half hour was nerve- racking, but instead of demoralising our assembled troops, tended only to develop and strengthen the fighting spirit Dawn was fast breaking the time was fast approaching. Another minute and the twilight would disappear. At the end of that minute, down 2000 yards in front of us fell a heavy curtain of metal - what a crash! "Twas our barrage! The opening roar of the cannons was like thunder. For three minutes that curtain would hang onto the line where it had fallen, then lift to a line 100 yards ahead, from which it would again lift and follow in the course of the programme made out for it ..... "We're in it boys!" shouted someone, and there arose as out of the earth, some hundreds of fit, athletic men bent only on one thing-the extermination or capture of the enemy. Forward they went in attack formation, few fell as the enemy shells and shrapnel burst about them. Machine-gun bullets filled the air with whistling noises, but soon died down as our barrage caught the emplacements Already the appealing cry of "Kamerad" was heard, and groups of pale faced, frightened Huns with hands upraised hurried past back to our lines Pill-boxes were rushed by some of the men and dozens of the enemy extracted Strong resistance met from one of these places was soon overcome when the men got into close quarters with their bayonets these they used with remarkable efficiency. After this the Hun willingly surrendered and by the time the first wave of the leading companies had reached its objective, some 400 prisoners had been captured and 8 pill-boxes and dug - outs mopped up At 7.15am, the first message was received saying that the objective had been captured During the day this place was subjected to intermittent bursts of heavy artillery fire, which, however, did not hamper the work of successfully re-organising the battalion On the 5th, the battalion was completely re-organised and ready to make a further advance if called upon ......... The battalion lost forty-seven killed and 152 wounded. It captured 420 of the enemy, and twenty machine-guns. Although the fight at Broodseinde was successful, the initiative was allowed to lapse, and the whole Allied enterprise developed into a bloody and bitter tragedy. Three more battles were fought there before the ridge was finally won in November. Waiter Peeling was born at Castlemaine, northwest of Melbourne, on August 9th 1887. He worked on his parents' orchard at Barker's Creek; for a time in a Castlemaine foundry, then in the Leongatha district, where he enlisted in February 1916. He was posted to the machine-gun section of 3rd Pioneer Battalion and served with the unit throughout the war. On November 6th 1916, in France, he was appointed Lance-Corporal. He was wounded twice during his service in France - on June 7th and October 20th, shortly after his exploit at Broodseinde. In May 1918 he was promoted to Corporal, and July 30th to Sergeant. Peeler was returned to Australia in October 1918, on furlough, and was
in Melbourne when the war ended. He was discharged from the AIF on December
10th.Peeler joined the staff of the Victorian Department of Lands, and
for six years was a member of the Soldier Settlement Branch. He then resigned
to take up an orchard in his home district, but later abandoned this venture
and returned to Melbourne. There, with Lawrence D McCarthy, VC, he joined
the staff of HV McKay Harvester Works, at Sunshine. "Wally" again enlisted in the AIF for World War 11, and again became a Pioneer, this time as a member of the 212nd Pioneer battalion which was formed in May 1940. He served throughout the Syrian Campaign, in June - July 1941, as CQMS of "D" Company (as a Staff - Sergeant). During the fighting at Merdjayoun late in June he led a party out in front of the line at night looking for wounded, and his missing company commander. The party recovered four wounded, but were unable to find their officer. Early in 1942, the 212nd was one of the Australian units sent to Java as part of Blackforce, commanded by Brigadier Arthur S Blackburn, VC. Upon the surrender of Java to the Japanese, the survivors of Blackforce passed into a particularly harsh period of captivity. Despite his age, Peeler managed to survive the treatment and returned to Australia after Japan's surrender in 1945. The happiness of Peeler's home coming on this occasion was marred by the news that one of his sons, Donald, had been killed in action with the 15th Battalion on Bougainville on December 31st 1944. Another son, Alfred, served in the 214th Field Regiment and died in an accident soon after the war. Kenneth, a third son, served in the RAN for twelve years attaining the rank of petty officer, signals. There were also three daughters in the family. Peeler had married in 1908 Emma Kathleen Hewitt. Peeler resumed his duties as Custodian of Victoria's Shrine of Remembrance
and in the Queen's Birthday Honours published on June 10th 1961, the award
to him of the British Empire Medal was promulgated. He visited London
in 1956 for the VC Centenary. In September 1959 he was guest of honour
at the opening of a soldier's club bearing his name at Casula, New South
Wales. REMEMBERING Jeffries, Captain Clarence Smith 34th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF. 12th October 1917, at Passchendaele, Belgium. (Posthumous Award) Citation: For most conspicuous bravery in attack, when his company was held up by enemy machine-gun fire from concrete emplacements. Organising a party, he rushed one emplacement , capturing four machineguns and thirty-five prisoners. He then led his company forward under extremely heavy enemy artillery barrage and enfilade machine-gun fire to the objective. Later, he again organised a successful attack on a machine-gun emplacement, capturing two machine-guns and thirty more prisoners. This gallant officer was killed during the attack, but it was entirely due to his bravery and initiative that the centre of the attack was not held up for a lengthy period. His example had a most inspiring influence. (London Gazette: 18th December 1917) The third phase of the Battle of Ypres, which had as its object the capture of Passchendaele, commenced on 31st July 1917, and raged continuously for three months. The Australian infantry was not largely committed in the early stages, but on 20th September the 1st and 2nd Divisions spearheaded the Second Army’s drive astride the Menin Road. The 4th and 5th Divisions then took over and prepared to attack on 26th September, but a German counterattack forced part of the British line back. In their sector, however, The Australians attacked, capturing Polygon Wood and advancing 1,200 years on a 2,300 yard front. On 4th October, 1st and 2nd Divisions with 3rd Division and the New Zealand Division, came back into the line, and attacked and captured Broodseinde Ridge. The Germans had also planned an attack on this day, and the two forces met in No Man’s Land, where they battled it out with bomb and bayonet. The Australians eventually gained mastery and forced their way to within 2,300 yards of Passchendaele. But that day the weather broke, and the battlefield became a lake of mud. The mud, incessant rain and cold told heavily on both sides, but on 9th October the 2nd Division took part of the objective on its front. Three days later, the 3rd and 4th advanced over the bog with New Zealand and British troops. Although this advance was partially successful, the attackers were forced back by the enemy’s furious resistance. Depleted by casualties and exhausted by the conditions, the Australians were then relieved by the Canadian Corps. Attacking on 6th November, the corps finally captured the ruins of Passchendaele. Australian casualties alone in this long struggle totalled 38,000. In the 34th’s advance of 12th October, the first point of resistance encountered was two concrete pill-boxes east of Augustus Wood. These strong-posts stopped the centre of the advance , and it was here that Jeffries organised and led the bombing party which rushed and eliminated the obstacle, which had threatened the attack almost at the start. Sergeant (later lieutenant) J Bruce MC DCM, was Jeffries’ chief assistant in the enterprise. The pill-boxes were only a short distance from the first objective, to which, despite great losses and with wide gaps in the line, the 34th then advanced. There, endeavouring to prepare for the next advance (timed for 8.25) the unit was harassed by machine-gun fire on the right flank. The position again became critical and Jeffries gathered another party, with Sergeant Bruce, another NCO and ten men to capture the post. As the gun was firing in short bursts, the party was able to get fairly close to it. Then, picking a moment when the gunners were firing in another direction, he gave the signal and his men rushed it. Just then, however, the gun swung around, killing Jeffries immediately and sending the men to ground. But the survivors rushed the post during the next lull, seizing two guns and the complete garrison. The advance then continued to Blue Line - the second objective; but by the time it was completed every officer of the battalion had been killed or wounded. Jeffries was born at Wallsend (New South Wales) on 26th October 1894, the son of Joshua Jeffries, General manager of Abermain Collieries, on the State’s northern coal fields. “Jeff”, as he was known in the 34th, was educated at Newcastle Collegiate and High Schools, and became a mining surveyor at Abermain. At the time of his enlistment he was in charge of the survey department of Abermain Collieries. From the age of fourteen Jeffries had been in the Militia, and when war
came was a lieutenant in the 14th (Hunter River) infantry. He was immediately
called up for training, and on 1st February 1916, was appointed to the
AIF with the rank of 2nd lieutenant. He was posted to the 34th battalion,
and sailed from Australia in May. During the 3rd Division’s period
of training in England he was gazetted lieutenant as from 1st August.
During the 34th’s participation in the battle of Messines, “Jeff”
was severely wounded, on 9th June 1917, but completely recovered and was
able to rejoin his unit. He became a captain from 26th June 1917, and
went into the Passchendaele battle as company commander. This splendid
officer was buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, near Passchendaele. Upon
the death of his mother in January 1954, his Victoria Cross was bequeathed
to the Warriors’ Chapel of Christchurch Cathedral, Newcastle. In
1947 the citizens of Abermain subscribed towards the establishment of
a Memorial Park. “Jeff’s” name is also linked with that
of William Currey, VC in the Jeffries-Currey Library at the primary school
at Dudley, Newcastle, where both were pupils. JOYNT, Lieutenant William Donovan 8th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF. 23rd August 1918, at Herleville Wood, near Chuignes, Péronne, France. Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the attack on Herleville Wood, near Chuignes, Péronne, on 23rd August 1918. His company commander having been killed early in the advance, he immediately took charge of the company, which he led with courage and skill. On approaching Herleville Wood the troops of the leading battalion, which his battalion was supporting, suffered very heavy casualties and were much shaken. Lieutenant Joynt, grasping the situation, rushed forward under very heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, collected and reorganised the remnant of the battalion, and kept them under cover pending the arrival of his own company. He then made a personal reconnaissance, and found that the fire from the Wood was checking the whole advance and causing heavy casualties to troops on his flanks. Dashing out in front of his men, he inspired and led a magnificent frontal bayonet attack on the Wood. The enemy were staggered by this sudden onslaught, and a very critical situation was saved. Later, at Plateau Wood, this very gallant officer again with a small party of volunteers rendered invaluable service and after severe hand-to-hand fighting turned a stubborn defence into an object surrender. His valour and determination was conspicuous throughout, and he continued to do magnificent work until badly wounded by a shell. (London Gazette: 27th November 1918 ) The first phase of the famous 8th August offensive lasted only one day, and the offensive was so decisive the Ludendorff declared “After the defeat of 8th August, I gave up the last vestige of hope.” The second phase, which commenced next day, lasted until 29th August. It was marked by a series of fights, with the line steadily advancing over open country ideally suited for defence. On 23rd August the 32nd British Division on the right and the 1st Australian Division on the left launched a fresh attack on a 4½ mile front. The attacking Australian battalion was the 6th, supported some yards behind the 8th. The 6th, however suffered severely, and many were killed in the 8th before the attack had proceeded far. Joynt, with his batman, Private T Newman, went forward to ascertain the position and found some of the 6th sheltering in a sunken road, hesitating to cross because of the intense fire which had already caused heavy losses Joynt spoke to the men and advised them to proceed “anyhow — by rushes of 25 yards”. They responded, but were pinned down again on top of the opposite slope by fire from a nearby strong-post, Plateau Wood. Joynt was now joined by Lieutenant LC McGinn, also of the 8th, with 15 men. A German machine-gun spraying the area with bullets was put out of action by McGinn’s Lewis gunner. Joynt and his party then crossed the road safely, capturing an enemy aid-post and fifty prisoners enroute, and decided to attack Plateau Wood as being the main danger point to the main attack. He obtained covering fire from the left of the 6th, his instructions to his comrades being to open fire on Plateau Wood “like blazes”. Joynt and McGinn waited a while, then worked through a trench filled with abandoned machine-guns, dead Germans, and live one who had lost interest in the war. Joynt was endeavouring to round up some of these men when he was faced with a party of twenty advancing with rifles at the ready. The Australian at once covered their leader with his revolver, and the whole party surrendered. Joynt then spread his men along the trench which faced the wood, intending to attack from there, but having discovered another enemy gun which would undoubtedly swing around onto them, he scouted until he found a trench leading directly into the wood—and to the machine-gun. Up this trench Joynt and his men then attacked, and were almost upon the enemy when someone yelled “They’re running!” The enemy had broken, and were pursued by the shouting Australians. A dozen more prisoners were taken, Joynt soon linked up with the 5th on one flank and the 6th on the other, and an unbroken line was established east of both Plateau and Herleville Woods. They were a very scared crew [wrote Joynt of the Germans in his diary]. One of them was on the point of howling and looked so miserable - McGinn noticing him suddenly and putting his face close to the Hun made a noise…..viz “Boo”. The Hun collapsed immediately. From then until wounded three days later in another attack, Joynt was always in the fight as the advance continued. Born at Elsternwick (Victoria) on 19th March 1889, to Edward and Alice Joynt, William received his education at “The Grange”, Toorak, and Melbourne Grammar School. Until he was twenty he studied accountancy, but forsook this for agricultural pursuits. These he followed in Northern and Western Australia. He travelled extensively, gaining experience in sheep and cattle farming as well as wheat farming in the Mallee, Victoria. He left a farming property at Flinders Island, Bass Strait, to enlist at Melbourne on 21st May 1915. Joynt had served for nearly two years in the Victorian Rifles, and his capabilities were soon recognised. He was appointed 2nd-lieutenant on 24th December 1915. Upon his arrival in France he was posted to the 8th Battalion and served in every fight, except one, to which the unit was committed, until 29th August 1918. He was, however, wounded on 30th September 1916, and was away from the battalion until 15th January 1917. He received the wound during a successful night raid on enemy trenches, and for his services was commended in Divisional Orders. Meanwhile, on the last day of 1916, he had been promoted to lieutenant. He gained his captaincy on 29th October 1918. The war was over before Joynt had recovered from his August 1918 wound, and he did not rejoin the battalion. His appointment was ended on 11th June 1920, and for several of the early post –war years he farmed acres at Berwick (Victoria) under the Soldier Settlement Scheme. (Before leaving Britain, Joynt had organised and led several parties of AIF men who toured farming areas of England to gain experience as part of the current education programmes for men awaiting repatriation. HW Murray took over from him in this work.) Largely because of several successive droughts, the farming venture failed, and Joynt moved to Melbourne, where he founded the firm of WD Joynt, printers and publishers. During this period he was one of a small band—among them the late Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Savige – who founded the famous Legacy movement. It was Savige and Joynt who attended the meeting of war widows in Melbourne at which the proposal was explained and eagerly accepted. By his membership of several committees of Legacy, Joynt maintained an active interest in the important work thus commenced. Between the wars he had retained his interest in soldiering, and from 1926 to 1933 was an officer of the 6th Battalion, the Royal Melbourne Regiment. Upon promotion to major in February 1930 he became its second-incommand. Still fit and active when war came again, he returned to full-time duty
to form and command the 3rd Garrison Battalion. In 1941 he became Camp
Commandant of the big training centre at Puckapunyal, and from early 1942
to 1944 was in charge of a similar camp nearby at Seymour. He was placed
on the Retired List on 10th October 1944. Joynt became director of several
publishing firms, as well as active control of the firm that he founded,
and was president of the Old Melbournians. During the VC Centenary celebrations
in London in 1956 he was chosen to broadcast to Australia from the dinner
given by the Lord Mayor. He married Edith a Garret on 19th March 1942,
and resided at Kallista, Melbourne until his death. McCARTHY, Lieutenant Lawrence Dominic 16th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF. 23rd August 1918, near Madam Wood, East of Vermandovillers, France. | ||