Australia's Involvement
in World War 1

Forty WW1 Clyde Volunteers

World War 1 Roll of Honor

Honor Roll - Former Scholars

Honor Roll - Residents

Honor Roll - Nurses

Clyde Men Who Never Came Home

ANZAC Stan Allars' Story

War Casualties

 

Military Awards

Community Recognition

 

 

 

 

 


Military Awards

Clyde Recipents of Military Awards
Atholl Croskell (32) M.M.
George Selway (24) M.M.
Norah Lehman (34) M.I.D.   Leslie Edwards (24) M.M.
Harold Richards (21) M.M.    

Bar on a Medal Mentioned in Despatches Medals given to all service personnel

Military Medal



What was the military medal awarded for in WW1?
It was awarded to other ranks (N.C.O. and Men) and was first instituted on 25 March 1916 during the First World War, to recognise bravery in battle
.

The Military Medal was the equivalent to the
Military Cross (MC) which was awarded to commissioned officers.

What is the difference between commissioned and (NCO) non commissioned officers?
Commissioned officers have graduated from a military academy.
Non-commissioned officers usually obtain their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks.

What is a bar on a medal?
A Medal Bar or Clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, it means that the order was awarded on two separate occasion.

Mentioned in Despatches



Mentioned In Despatches 1914-1920:
The MID is a special clasp to signify a mention in despatches from the front.

Why is it awarded?
A member of the armed forces mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described.

What does it look like?
It consists consisted of a single broad spray of oak leaves

How is it worn?
A member mentioned in despatches (MID) for service during World War 1 wears a bronze spray of oak leaves on the Victory Medal ribbon.

Acknowledgement given to Mr Maurice Brodie for information about military medals. Marice Brodie is a descendant of Clyde WW1 volunteer, Francis Brodie.

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1917 CROSKELL, Athol Percival (SN 4762), Western Front
Military Medal and Bar on Military Medal

Athol began life in Frankston, 1884, in a community minded family. Athol himself took part in local sporting activities before he enlisted on 4 October 1915. Athol, a single man of 30 when he enlisted, was living with his brother Cyril Croskell, and together they managed a farm On March 7, 1916 Athol, in the 8th Battalion, embarked on board the Wiltshire with three other Clyde men; Harry BAILEY, Fred BRIDGEWATER, Herbert OWEN, and Tom RIDGWAY Standing taller than most men, at 5ft 10 in (177.7cm) he also stood tall in courage, initiative, bravery under fire. As a Sergeant he earned a Military Medal and a Bar to Military Medal while in France with the 8th Battalion

Military Medal
“During the operations east of YPRES on 20th September 1917, Sergeant. CROSKELL was in charge of a carrying party of twenty attached to the 2nd A.L.T.M. Bty., and whose duty it was to carry forward Stokes shells and charges. He arrived with his first party at the same time as the guns and immediately reorganised his party which had suffered casualties, and returned to CLAPHAN JUNCTION for a further supply of ammunition, continuing his trips to the dump until his party had been reduced to a strength of three”.
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: 7 March 1918

Bar to Military Medal
'During the attack on ST. MARTIN'S WOOD near FOUCAUCOURT on the morning of the 23rd August, 1918, Sergeant CROSKELL showed great initiative and bravery in gathering small parties of men and clearing enemy posts and dug-outs. When the C.S.M. was wounded Sergeant CROSKELL took over the duties and proved of utmost assistance to his Company Commander in re-organising and consolidating. During the exceptionally heavy gas attack lasting five hours he repeatedly moved up and down the line encouraging the men by his coolness and through his efforts not one man was evacuated suffering with gas”.
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109 Date: 15 September 1919

Athol showed a strong interest in community activities. After WW1 Athol Croskell settled in Frankston where he died aged 65 in 1949.

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1917 William George Selway (SN 1499), Gallipoli and Western Front
Military Medal

Born in Essex, England, George Selway came to Australia in response to a plea for young men workers. Soon after his arrival War broke out and he enlisted ion 24th August 1914, almost three weeks after the outbreak of war and set sail for Gallipoli aboard the Southern on 20th October 1914. In 1918 he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred for service in France.

'On the night of 31st October/1st November 1917 during a very heavy Gas and H.E. bombardment of ANZAC RIDGE N.E. of WESTHOEK a Dugout at the Battery position was hit by a Gas shell. These N.C.O.'s at once - regardless of the falling shells dug out three men who had been buried, two of whom were dead. The third they put on a stretcher and carried him through the heavy barrage to an Aid Post, but on arrival he was found to be dead. These N.C.O.s showed great personal courage and set a splendid example in their heroic attempt to save these men's lives - regardless of their own safety.”
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95 Date: 27 June 1918

George Selway took up dairy farming  on Moores Road Clyde following the war about 1927, became involved in community activities and retired to Pascoe Vale in the 1960’s.

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1917 Leslie Edwards  (SN 3285), Western Front
Military Medal

Clyde Primary School teacher, Leslie EDWARDS, originally from Longwarry, he taught from 1919 until 1926. Overseas he served with the Army Medical Corps, Special Reinforcements in Belgium.

“This man showed great gallantry and devotion to duty on 12th October, 1917, under the following circumstances: Evacuation from the R.A.P. in the ZONNEBEKE area, east of YPRES, had been temporarily suspended owing to an enemy barrage and the difficult nature of the ground. This man, however, volunteered and successfully carried out the evacuation of the patient whose condition was such that immediate evacuation was his only chance.”
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95 Date: 27 June 1918
Leslie Edwards ‘s first full time teaching appointment was the newly established Clyde State School. His gallantry continued to be expressed in the community and in his teaching.
A very much loved and valued Clyde citizen.


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1917 Nora Blanche Lehman, Middle East and Western Front
Mentioned in Despatches (MID)

Norah Lehman, the daughter of Kate and George Lehman, “Springmeadows” Thompsons Road, Clyde North served as a nurse both in Egypt and France.
During her time in France, as a Staff Nurse she was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haigh's Despatches for distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty in the field in the 1st Clearing Station in January 1917.
She was awarded the badge of Two Oak Leaves ( one large and one small).
Following her return to Australia during the 1919 Spanish Influenza epidemic Norah worked as the Matron for Cranbourne’s Emergency Hospital.
Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 29 June 1917, Page 1394, position 46


Do you recognize the signature at the bottom of the certificate?

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1918 Henry Harold Richards SN 9774, Western Front
Military Medal

Henry Harold Richards enlisted from Cranbourne on April 18, 1916. His parents Thomas and Alice later moved to Clyde where they lived out most of their lives.
In October 1916, the 19 year old recruit set sail for the Western Front serving as a driver in the Howitzer Brigade 119.  His bravery and dedication to duty in carrying out routine orders in France earned him a Military Medal at the age of 21 in July 1918.
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette No. 23 Date: 12 February 1919’

Henry returned to Australia in 1919 and took up farming, possibly along side of his father, Thomas Richards in Clyde for a few years.

Military Service Medals awarded to all military personnel
Returned soldiers were presented with medals in recognition of their service to Australia. Some received three medals while others received two depending on their lenght of their war service.





Victory Meda
l




British War Medal 1914-20













The 1914 Star













1914-1915 Star

Awarded to commemorate the victory of the Allied Forces over the Central Powers in WW1. Awarded to service personnel who were on duty between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.
King George V of England, gave this medal to mark the end of the War and for services given.
Awarded for the period between 5 August and 11 November 1918


Served in France or Belgium between 5 August 1914 to 23 November 1914




Awarded for service between 5 August 1914 to 31 December 1915




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Sources
1
The AIF Project Basic summary of each soldier's WW 1 military record
2
Military Record Search Individual military records
3
Army - World War 1: 1914-18 Army personnel military records
4
Virtual War Memorial Australia Basic individual military history with details added in by volunteers
5
Monuments and Memorials Plaques, memorials to individual military personnel in Australia
6
Victorian War Heritage Inventory Find a name on a Roll of Honor
7
TROVE digitised newspaper accounts Newspaper accounts of events, news items, adverisements, family news
8
Victorian. Registry Office, Family History Family history search
9
Ryerson Index of Newspaper Death notices Death notices in Australian newspapers
10
Public Records Office, Victoria Family history section: Wills, Travel- interstate and international
11
Casey Cardinia Commemoriates Our War Year Local historian, Heather Arnold, explores military history & stories
12
Ancestry.com (subscription account) Electoral Rolls, Military History, Births Death Marriages, Travel & Immigration
13
Cranbourne RSL Archives  
14
Cranbourne Shire Rate Books 1863-1947  
15
Schools' Register of Clyde children 1910-1980  
16
Cemetery Records - Deceased Search online  
17
Relevant Historical Societies  
18
Family History Researchers Selway, Lehman, Edwards families
19
Mr Maurice Brodie Information about medals. A descendent of Clyde WW1 soldier, Francis Brodie.
20
Defence Honors & Awards Information and graphics about military awards
21
Education Department's Record of War Service "The Men who Returned" Book 1 p 129
22
Last Post Ceremony Canberra Daily rememberance of a name on the national Roll of Honor
Note: Internet site addresses frequently change.