| Place | Oceania: Australia |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL31211 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Medal |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1912 |
| Conflict |
Period 1910-1919 |
Commonwealth Military Competitions Medal : Sergeant J A McDonnell, 44 Senior Cadet Battalion
Description
Commonwealth Military Competitions Medal for Senior Cadets. The obverse of the medal features a raised map of Australia containing the word 'AUSTRALIA'. Around the circumference are the words 'COMMONWEALTH . MILITARY . COMPETITIONS . SENIOR . CADETS'. On the reverse, in raised letters, are the words '. CHAMPION . TEAM . BRIGADE COMPETITIONS'. Engraved in sloping letters is the date '1912.13' and the words 'Sergt. J. McDonnell. 44TH BATTN'.
History / Summary
John Albert McDonnell was born at Illabo, NSW, in 1897, doing his pre-war compulsory cadet service with 44 Battalion in country NSW. Married at a young age, McDonnell was working as a clerk in Albury, NSW prior to his enlistment in the AIF in July 1915. Posted as Private 3875 to 6 Infantry Battalion, he sailed with the 12th Reinforcements aboard the transport A40 ('Ceramic') in November 1915, arriving in Egypt too late to see service at Gallipoli. 6 Battalion moved to France in early 1916, its first major engagement being at Pozieres, on the Somme, in July. McDonnell died on 19 August of wounds received in the subsequent fighting around Mouquet Farm, and is buried at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension.