The AIF Project

Military Medal

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.

Military Medal

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength of 5th Bn, Serapeum, 22 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, Alexandria, 25 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 March 1916.

Admitted to No 7 Casualty Clearing Station, 26 April 1916 (nephritis); transferred to No 14 Stationary Hospital, 28 April 1916; to England, 15 May 1916; to No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, 18 May 1916; to No 3 London General Hospital, Wandsworth, 19 May 1916; to Woodgate Park Hospital, 30 May 1916; to No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 31 May 1916; to Woodcote Park Hospital, 7 June 1916.

Marched into 2nd Training Bn, Perham Downs, 25 July 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 12 August 1916; marched into 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 13 August 1916.

Rejoined 5th Bn, 21 August 1916.

Admitted to No 5 Field Ambulance, 17 December 1916 (trench feet); transferred to No 5 General Hospital, Rouen, 20 December 1916; to England, 23 December 1916; to No 1 London General Hospital, Camberwell, 24 December 1916; to Holborn Military Hospital, 24 March 1917; discharged to furlough, 8 June 1917; marched into No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 23 June 1917.

Marched into Overseas Training Depot, Longbridge Deverill, 24 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 12 July 1917; marched into 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, 13 July 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 29 July 1917; rejoined 5th Bn, 30 July 1917.

Wounded in action, 4 October 1917; admitted to No 3 Field Ambulance, 4 October 1917 (multiple gunshot wounds); transferred to No 2 Casualty Clearing Station, 4 October 1917 (shrapnel wounds, side, foot and hand); to No 56 General Hospital, Etaples, 5 October 1917; to England, 8 October 1917; to Norwich War Hospital, 8 October 1917; to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, 10 January 1918; discharged, 14 January 1918, and marched into No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, the same day.

Admitted to Group Clearing Hospital, 18 January 1918 (unhealed wounds).

Admitted to Fovant Hospital, 31 January 1918 (unhealed wounds); discharged, 18 March 1918, and marched into No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, the same day.

Marched into No 3 Command Depot from Bde Hospital, 15 May 1918.

Marched into Overseas Training Bde, Longbridge Deverill, 18 June 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 10 July 1918; marched into Australian Intermediate Base Depot, Le Havre, 12 July 1918.

Proceeded to unit, 12 July 1918; rejoined 5th Bn, 16 July 1918.

Killed in action, 10 August 1918.