| Regimental number | 741 |
| Place of birth | Hampshire, England |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Bush worker |
| Address | Kyogle, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 34 |
| Height | 5' 7.25" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Friend, Miss E Halstead, Blackall Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Previous military service | Rifle Brigade |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Lance Corporal |
| Unit name | 9th Battalion, F Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/26/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board Transport A5 Omrah on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 9th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Distinguished Conduct Medal Recommendation date: Mention in Despatches Awarded, and gazetted, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 29251 (5 August 1915); 'Commonwealth Gazette', No. 133 (28 October 1915). Military Medal Recommendation date: |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 42 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy. The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra. On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours. After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns. |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 56 |
| Medals |
Distinguished Conduct Medal 'On 25th April, 1915, during operations near Gaba Tepe, for conspicuous courage and initiative in returning from the firing line under heavy fire, collecting reinforcements, and assisting in leading a successful bayonet charge to the top of a hill, which was eventually held against great odds.'
Source: 'London Gazette' No. 6544 Date: Military Medal 'At FLEURBAIX, FRANCE, during the successful raid carried out by 9th Battalion on the night 1st/2nd July, 1916 in company with his Officer was first into enemy trenches where they tackled 21 Germans in a large dug-out. In spite of the fact that rifle and revolver fire was directed at them from the dug-out these two went in returning the enemy fire eventually killing seven and disarming and capturing the remainder. Throughout the raid this N.C.O. proved absolutely fearless and set a splendid example of gallantry. He has already been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry on GALLIPOLI.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 184 Date: |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Medals: Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
