Victory Medal : Corporal H A Lord, 8 Battalion, AIF

Place Europe: Western Front
Accession Number REL35313.004
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Medal
Physical description Bronze
Maker Unknown
Place made United Kingdom
Date made c 1920
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Victory Medal. 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 ‘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 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.