Enamel medal ribbon : Corporal T F Green, 3 Battalion, AIF

Rectangular brass and enamel ribbon bar badge, with pin brooch attachment soldered to reverse. Features the ribbon for the British War Medal and the unofficial, preliminary design for the Victory Medal, displaying the flags of the Allied participants.

Thomas Francis Green was born in Glen Innes, NSW and enlisted at Sydney on 24 July 1915 at the age of 24. After training he embarked for overseas service on 30 September 1915 with 18 Battalion. Although his record doesn’t state it, he possibly served at Gallipoli. On 14 February 1916 he was transferred to 3rd Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir before his unit transferred to France in late March. During May 1916 he was in hospital with an abcess; in October he was appointed lance corporal; in March 1917 to corporal. In May 1917 he was detached to the 1st Training Battalion at Perham Downs for a training course. He returned to France in early October 1917, but almost immediately was in hospital with a condition - his treatment lasted two months and he rejoined his unit on 16 December 1917. On 25 April 1918 he was promoted to temporary sergeant, but an accident where he fractured his toe saw him back in hospital in August, where he was evacuated to England, and reverted to the rank of corporal.
On 26 October 1918 he was noted as absent without leave and was declared an illegal absentee and struck off the strength of his battalion – it wasn’t until 7 December that he was apprehended in London. With three weeks he was absent again – from 26 December until 28 January 1919 when he was apprehended in Islington. He faced a court martial, where he pleaded and was found guilty on both charges. He was reduced to the ranks for 50 days . Green was returned to Australia almost immediately and disembarked at Sydney on 14 May 1919 where he was discharged.

This enamelled ribbon bar displays the ribbons for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. This design for the Victory Medal ribbon, however, was issued by a commercial company before the official design was decided on, and in a mid 1919 and must be considered an unofficial design. This helps to date the acquisition of this enamelled piece to mid 1919.