Joseph Patrick GREENE

ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationProduce buyer, inspector
AddressNorth Richmond, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Next of kinMother, Mrs Margaret Ellen Greene, 7 Bennett Street, North Richmond, Victoria
Enlistment date11 February 1916
Rank on enlistment2nd Lieutenant
Unit name22nd Battalion, 19th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/39/5
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 11 May 1917
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll22nd Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal (Altered from Companion of the Distinguished Service Order)


Recommendation date: 23 May 1918

Bar to Military Medal


Recommendation date: 21 October 1918

FateEffective abroad (still overseas)
Medals

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the party of which this officer was in command were engaged in establishing a new post, they were attacked by a strong enemy fighting patrol. He at once engaged the enemy with bombs that were handed to him by his men, and dispersed the attackers, with heavy losses. When he had extricated his party from the somewhat difficult situation, it was observed that the enemy were on the point of making prisoner of one of his men who had been wounded. Without hesitation he went back, and, keeping off the enemy with the fire of his revolver, he took up the wounded man and brought him back to safety. He displayed courage of a high order in this encounter.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15
Date: 4 February 1919

Bar to Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and daring in an attack near Geneve on 4to October 1918. When the advance was checked by heavy machine gun fire, he dashed ahead, and, emplacing a Lewis gun, engaged the enemy, enabling the advance to continue. He then led a mopping up party and cleared the enemy post, and pushed onto the final objective, where he held on in face of determined resistance until the remainder of the company came up.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 30
Date: 25 March 1920

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Cross, Bar to Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal