'For continuous good service and devotion to duty. During the period from March to September Private KIRKLAND has done conspicuous good service as a stretcher bearer. On the 30th March, 1918, during an enemy operation East of SAILLY-le-SEC he carried men to the rear through very heavy artillery and machine gun fire. On the 22nd August, 1918, when the Battalion moved to a position of readiness West of BRAY they encountered a barrage. Private KIRKLAND at great risk went looking for wounded comrades, bandaging them up and carrying them to the rear. On the 29th August, 1918, his Company again had many casualties and the same action was repeated. After attending to our men he noticed a British Officer who was badly wounded. he ran forward and commenced bandaging this Officer. A shell burst very near him wounding him in the face. He continued attending to the Officer and carried him to the rear before having his own wounds attended to.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 91
Date: 2 April 1973

Regimental number	1940
Place of birth	Saddleworth South Australia
Religion	Methodist
Occupation	Farmer
Address	Saddleworth, South Australia
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	20
Next of kin	Father, Mr Alfred Robert Kirkland, Saddleworth, South Australia
Enlistment date	12 April 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	50th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/67/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on 13 July 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	43rd Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)	Meritorious Service Medal Recommendation date: 17 September 1918
Fate	Returned to Australia 1 April 1919
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records	Plaque in South Australian Garden of Remembrance
Medals	Military Medal 'For continuous good service and devotion to duty. During the period from March to September Private KIRKLAND has done conspicuous good service as a stretcher bearer. On the 30th March, 1918, during an enemy operation East of SAILLY-le-SEC he carried men to the rear through very heavy artillery and machine gun fire. On the 22nd August, 1918, when the Battalion moved to a position of readiness West of BRAY they encountered a barrage. Private KIRKLAND at great risk went looking for wounded comrades, bandaging them up and carrying them to the rear. On the 29th August, 1918, his Company again had many casualties and the same action was repeated. After attending to our men he noticed a British Officer who was badly wounded. he ran forward and commenced bandaging this Officer. A shell burst very near him wounding him in the face. He continued attending to the Officer and carried him to the rear before having his own wounds attended to.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 91 Date: 2 April 1973 Bar to Military Medal Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115 Date: 10 October 1919
Family/military connections	Brothers: 1938 Pte Arthur Edward KIRKLAND, 43rd Bn, returned to Australia, 16 January 1919; 1939 Pte Albert Robert KIRKLAND, AIF Headquarters, effective abroad (still overseas).
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: Military Medal & Bar, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death	9 May 1985

Oliver Henry KIRKLAND