Victory Medal : Lieutenant W O Rabey, 17 Battalion, AIF

Victory Medal. 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 The battalion was withdrawn from Gallipoli to Egypt in December 1915.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 and Second Bullecourt in France, and Menin Road in Belgium, 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, when he captured 10 Germans and a machine gun. He 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.