Born: 3 November 1894
Died: 25 February 1993
A licensed surveyor who enlisted in the AIF on 26 November 1915. He was appointed a Second Lieutenant on 1 February 1916 and embarked with the 9th Field Company Engineers for England on 5 July 1916 arriving on 31 August.
Following further training in England the unit arrived in France on 23 November 1916. He was wounded (right leg) in action at Messines, Belgium on 25 June 1917 and evacuated to England for treatment and convalescence. He rejoined his unit on 24 September 1917.
He was twice recommended for the Military Cross. On 28 February 1918, the Officer Commanding his unit made the following recommendation:
"For devotion to duty and conspicuous gallantry throughout. By his most excellent example and disregard for shell fire, parties were kept at work and communication was established and maintained to our Advanced Posts, in spite of the fact that work was under direct enemy observation from Front Line trenches." There was no further action taken with this recommendation.
The second recommendation which resulted in the award of a Military Cross, was as follows:
"At Bouzencourt near Albert (France) on the night of 6th April, 1918. this officer displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. With a section of sappers, he constructed two barrel bridges across the Somme under heavy shell fire. By his fine example and utter disregard for personal safety, communication across the river was restored that night."
He embarked for Australia on 2 March 1919 and arrived on 19 April then his appointment in the AIF was terminated on 2 June 1919. [JSB]
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