David Price RANKIN

Regimental number1603
Place of birthLismore, New South Wales
SchoolLismore Public School, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationRailway employee
AddressBoxhill, via Lismore, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Next of kinFather, David Rankin, Boxhill, via Lismore, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date11 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll4 July 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name30th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/47/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 9 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll30th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


'Work near Villers-Bretonneux on 7th and 8th August 1918.'
Recommendation date: 11 August 1918

FateKilled in Action 28 August 1918
Place of death or woundingFrance
Age at death24
Age at death from cemetery records24
Place of burialHeath Cemetery (Plot V, Row I, Grave No. 15), Harbonnieres, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
117
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: David and Jane RANKIN
Medals

Military Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the operations of the 7th/8th August 1918 near VILLERS-NBRETONNEUX. Private RANKIN was a stretcher bearer on Battalion Headquarters, and, on afternoon of 8th inst., when Battalion Headquarters was heavily shelled, he showed great courage and determination in the organising and the supervising of bearer parties for the evacuation of 12 Officers and other ranks, who were wounded, and were all stretcher cases. Owing to the heavy demand for stretcher bearers in the forward area, there was a temporary shortage. Private RANKIN, noticing a party of enemy prisoners passing by went and brought them in, and organised them into bearer parties. he also assisted in carrying several cases till they were beyond the very heavily shelled area, then returning to organise further parties, thereby keeping himself under heavy shell fire during the whole period.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61
Date: 23 May 1919

Family/military connectionsCousins: 1943 Lance Corporal Stanley James THORBURN, 4th Pioneer Bn, died of diease, 16 March 1918; 1211 Trooper Claude POWELL, 11th Light Horse Regiment, killed in action, 1 May 1918.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal