| Place | Europe: Belgium, Flanders, West-Vlaanderen, Ypres, Zonnebeke, Polygon Wood |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL35313.001 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Award |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Distinguished Conduct Medal : Corporal H A Lord, 1 Australian Pioneer Battalion, AIF
Description
Distinguished Conduct Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
History / Summary
Associated with the service of 2875A Corporal Henry Albert Lord, born 14 November 1892 in Newport, Victoria. Lord, a 23 year old contractor from North Wandin, Victoria, enlisted as a private in the AIF on 30 June 1915. He embarked for Egypt aboard SS Makarini in September and served at Gallipoli as a reinforcement to 8 Battalion until the evacuation in December. Lord was transferred to 1 Australian Pioneer Battalion on 25 March 1916 and the next day left Egypt for France and the Western Front. In late July Lord received gunshot wounds to his left shoulder and right hand and was evacuated to England for treatment. He returned to France in April 1917 where he was promoted to lance corporal on 25 August and to corporal on 14 January 1918. Lord was gassed during action on 17 January and received treatment at a hospital in Boulogne before rejoining his unit on 6 February. A few days later he proceeded on leave to the United Kingdom but was again hospitalised suffering from pleurisy. Lord spent the rest of 1918 convalescing in England before being invalided home to Australia on 11 December. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in June 1918. The recommendation for the award reads: 'For continuous good work as an N.C.O. from 22nd September, 1917 to 24th February, 1918 and particularly for his gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations east of YPRES from 22nd September to 5th November, 1917. During the whole time his personal disregard of danger and devotion to duty set a fine example to the men under his command. Corporal LORD had charge of a party engaged on the night of 26th October, 1917 in establishing communication tracks through POLYGON WOOD to the Forward Area. The enemy heavily shelled the vicinity and the party suffered heavy casualties. By his gallant conduct this N.C.O. was enabled to get all the wounded to the Dressing Station and to complete the work in hand'. During the Second World War, despite having the function of only one lung and being classified as totally and permanently disabled, Lord enlisted in the militia on 11 June 1940 as Private V84501. He served with Southern Command Signals Headquarters and was discharged on 12 November 1940. He died at the age of 93.