Distinguished Conduct Medal : Corporal W O Rabey, 17 Battalion, AIF

Distinguished Conduct Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Walter October Rabey, a 24 year old fencing contractor, enlisted in the AIF in Sydney, NSW, on 16 May 1915. After initial training he was assigned as a private to the 2nd reinforcements of 17 Battalion, with the service number 1760. Rabey sailed to Egypt aboard HMAT A23 Suffolk, on 28 July 1915 and joined his battalion on Gallipoli on 11 September, as a member of A Company. The battalion was withdrawn from Gallipoli to Egypt in December 1915. After further training in Egypt the battalion moved to France in March 1916. The battalion fought at Pozieres in July and August 1916. Rabey was promoted to lance corporal in October 1916 then to corporal in December. At the beginning of 1917 he was sent to England to train as a sniper and was awarded a 1st class qualification at the Tidworth School of Musketry. In 1917 he took part in the battles of Lagnicourt (March - April) and Second Bullecourt (May) in France, and Menin Road in Belgium (September). These battles were followed by Poelcappelle on 9-10 October. During the latter engagement, which formed part of the larger first battle of Passchendaele, Rabey was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The recommendation for the award reads: 'At PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE on 9th October this NCO led his section through the barrage to the first objective, where he helped greatly in consolidation. Then, as most of his section had become casualties, he organised the whole of the remaining platoon, and led them forward to the second objective. He was held up by a concrete MG [machine gun] position, and leaving most of his men to keep fire on it, worked round the flank with a few men and captured the gun intact and 7 of the crew. He then led forward his few remaining men and only halted when all but 2 had become casualties. Taking up a position in a shell hole he continued sniping all day with great success, as he is an expert shot. One party of 6 Huns attempted to work past him in the afternoon in order to regain the captured gun position. Cpl RABEY alone drove them back with rifle fire, killing 2 and causing the others to take cover. He brought the M.G. he captured, out of the line, and personally handed it to an officer. His activity in sniping on this sector greatly hampered the enemy in the preparations for his counter attack. This NCO was recommended for good work done at POZIERES, but did not receive an award. He is a very valuable man and has shown consistent good work right through the recent operations.' Volume IV, p 893, of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 states that of the 17 Germans taken in this incident, Rabey personally captured 10 of them. Rabey was made a temporary sergeant in November 1917. In April 1918 he was sent to England to undertake officer training, where the following assessment of his skills was made: 'will make an excellent officer, above the ordinary'. Rabey was commissioned a second lieutenant in November 1918, and promoted to lieutenant in February 1919. He spent six weeks working for the Australian War Records Section before returning to Australia on the troopship HMAT A34 Persic in July 1919.

• 1914-15 Star : Private W O Rabey, 17 Battalion, AIF
• British War Medal 1914-20 : Lieutenant W O Rabey, 17 Battalion, AIF
• Victory Medal : Lieutenant W O Rabey, 17 Battalion, AIF