GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 50
A Great War 1917 ‘Ypres’ M.M. group of four awarded to Sapper G. Clark, 3rd Field Company, Australian Engineers, Australian Imperial Force, for saving the life of a wounded runner during operations at Polygon de Zonnebeke, 20 September 1917. He received a gun shot wound to the leg, 16 March 1918, which developed Tetanus
MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. (1996 Sapr. G. Clark. 3/F. Coy Aust: E.); 1914-15 STAR (1996 Spr. C. Clark. 3/F. C. Eng. A.I.F.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (1996 Spr. G. Clark. 3 F.C.E. A.I.F.) mounted for display, traces of verdigris to Star, pair with official corrections, generally very fine or better (4)
£600-800 M.M. London Gazette 17 December 1917. The original recommendation states:
‘During the operations east of Ypres on 20th September 1917, this man was employed as a runner. He was continually going between advanced lines and Brigade Headquarters and in spite of heavy shelling delivered messages. On one occasion his fellow runner was badly wounded and Clark carried him on his shoulders until assistance was obtained when he delivered his messages, and returned alone through heavy shelling to the forward position.’
George Clark was born in Taranaki, New Zealand, in 1890. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force 7 September 1915. Clark disembarked at Egypt in January 1916, and embarked for France in S.S. Ballarat in March 1916. He served with the 3rd Field Company, Australian Engineers as part of the 1st Australian Division in the French theatre of war.
Clark was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in connection with operations at Polygon de Zonnebeke, Ypres, 20 September 1917. He was subsequently tried by Court Martial, and also received a gun shot wound to the leg, 16 March 1918. The wound developed tetanus, and Clark became dangerously ill. He returned to Australia in H.T. Carpentaria in August 1918, and was discharged 18 November 1918.
After the war Clark wrote to the authorities claiming that his M.M. had been lost at sea when the troopship Barunga was torpedoed, he also claimed that he had not been issued with his Great War campaign medals. From the extant official paperwork it would appear that the issuing authorities in Australia had tried to contact Clark a number of times after the war, but did not have the correct address for him. Their records listed that in 1919 Clark’s M.M. remained unclaimed and was put into storage - it was finally released to him in 1932. He successfully claimed his campaign medals for the first time in the same year.
51
A Great War 1917 ‘Zonnebeke and Broodseinde operations’ M.M. awarded to Lance-Corporal 22nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, a Lewis Gunner who engaged from the hip, and was twice wounded in action during the course of the conflict
MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. (4447 Pte. G. Green. 22/Aust: Inf:) edge bruising, therefore nearly very fine M.M. London Gazette 14 January 1918. The original recommendation states:
£600-800
‘For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At Zonnebeke, Belgium, on 4th October 1917 this Lewis Gunner was in the lead wave. Advancing under the barrage he effectively used his gun from the hip until a hostile post was encountered. He brought his gun into action against this post and engaged the enemy gun crew thus enabling detachment of our troops to work around and bomb the garrison. At Broodseinde, Belgium, on 9th October 1917 he again showed great skill in handling his gun and inflicted severe losses on the enemy on more than one occasion. Although physically worn out and exhausted he remained constantly on duty and contributed materially to the success of the operation.’
George Green was born in Mallow, Cork, Ireland. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 28 January 1916, and embarked for France 14 September 1916. Green served with the 22nd Australian Infantry Battalion as part of the 6th Australian Brigade, 2nd Australian Division in the French theatre of war.
Green was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations at Zonnebeke, 4 October 1917, and at Broodseinde 9 October 1917. The Battalion War Diary for 4 October 1917 records:
‘Our barrage opened at 6am (Zero time). In conjunction with 8th Bn A.I.F. on our right, and 25th Bn A.I.F. on our left, the Battalion advanced to the attack.... the objective being the Red Line. The advancing waves almost at once encountered the enemy in force. Parties with fixed bayonets were met advancing. It soon became evident that we had anticipated an enemy attack. Considerable casualties were inflicted by our Lewis Gunners firing from the hip.... The number of prisoners captured by the Bn is difficult to estimate, as some parties were sent to rear by routes outside the Brigade Boundaries. A conservative estimate would be 200. Mopping-up later resulted in the capture of 2 Battn, Commanders and staff, and important maps and orders... Enemy losses were severe, as our mopper- uppers bombed pill boxes and occupants thereof were killed.’
Green advanced to Lance-Corporal in January 1918, and received a gun shot wound to his hand, 29 July 1918. He received a more serious set of wounds, 3 October 1918, when he was shot in the arm, hand and knee. Green returned to Australia in S.S. Orontes in December 1918, and was discharged 30 January 1919. He died in Melbourne Hospital, 25 June 1919.
52
A Great War 1918 ‘Somme’ M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant E. B. Mundle, 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for his gallant conduct as a runner during an offensive west of Bray-sur-Somme, 22 August 1918. He had been gassed three months prior to the action
MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. (2850 Pte. E. B. Mundle. 3/Aust: Pnr: Bn:); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (2850 A-Sgt. E. B. Mundle. 3-Pnr. Bn. A.I.F.) mounted for display, generally good very fine (3)
£700-900 M.M. London Gazette 11 February 1919. The original recommendation states:
‘On the early morning of the 22nd August 1918 during the offensive on the west of Bray-sur-Somme, No. 2850 Private Edward Baker Mundle was employed as a runner, attached to Lt. J. H. James MC. He was continuously carrying messages after the objective was reached, from the front line, which was on the slope just in front of the village, and was swept continuously by enemy machine gun and rifle fire, which was particularly bad in this quarter. Through the messages he took to the Trench Mortar Officer and to Company Headquarters, however, the situation was able to be effectively dealt with and communication kept up. Throughout the whole operation, Private Mundle showed great courage and devotion to duty, setting a splendid example to all ranks.’
Edward Barker Mundle was born in Balmain, Sydney, Australia, in 1892, and was educated at the Western Australia School of Mines. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, at Blackley Hill, 8 February 1916, and embarked for the UK in S.S. Benalla at the end of the year. Mundle embarked for France 3 May 1917, and served with the 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion as part of the 3rd Australian Division in the French theatre of war.
Mundle was gassed 26 May 1918. He was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations on the Somme, in particular during the offensive west of Bray-sur-Somme, 22 August 1918. The latter action was the first time that the Battalion had been engaged in an infantry capacity since its’ arrival in France.
Mundle returned to Australia in H.T. Kildonian Castle in September 1919, and was discharged 28 April 1919.
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