Military Cross : Sergeant Major H F Slocombe, 4 Ammunition Sub Park, Australian Army Service Corps, AIF

Military Cross awarded to H F Slocombe. Engraved on reverse of award.

Herbert Frederick Slocombe was born on 4 February 1889. He enlisted on the 16 September 1914 and embarked from Melbourne on the 22 December 1914 with the rank of Sergeant on board HMAT Ceramic. He arrived in England with 301 Mechanical Transport Army Service Corps, 17 Division Ammunition Park. On 12 July 1915 he left Avonmouth, in England for Rouen on board SS Saga, arriving on 15 July. He served on the western Front and as a sergeant major, in July 1917, was awarded a Military Cross for his actions at a dump at Vlamertinghe, Belgium. The recommendation reads 'on the night of 20/21 July 1917, at Orilla dump, near Vlamertinghe, he organised and controlled the fire party of No 4 sub-park, localising the out break of fire in three bays and taking a leading part in the clearing of ammunition from a neighbouring dump, though hit in the right wrist by a fragment. This warrant officer by his courageous example in the midst of falling shrapnel, shell bodies and cartridge cases was largely instrumental in saving the remainder of the dump from destruction'. He returned to Australia on 9 December 1918. During the Second World War he enlisted again on 2 April 1940, giving his date of birth as 7 February 1894. He served in Australia until 21 July 1941, when he was discharged.

• 1914-15 Star: Lieutenant H F Slocombe, AIF
• British War Medal: Lieutenant H F Slocombe, AIF
• Victory Medal with MID: Lieutenant H F Slocombe, AIF