1914-15 Star : Private A S Skinner, 25 Battalion AIF

1914-15 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details.

Abel Samuel Skinner was born at Casino, NSW. He claimed to be a 21 year old labourer when he enlisted in the AIF on 18 June 1915, when in fact he had just turned 18. After training in Brisbane he was assigned as a private with the service number 1997 to the 3rd reinforcements of 25 Battalion. He sailed for Egypt, destined for service on Gallipoli, aboard HMAT Kyarra on 10 August 1915. However, due to further training in Egypt and hospitalisation with mumps, Skinner served on the peninsula for less than two weeks, arriving there to join his battalion on 8 December. He returned to Egypt, via the island of Mudros, on 9 January 1916. On 19 March the 25th Battalion became the first of the AIF battalions to arrive in France for service on the Western Front. Its first engagement was at Pozieres in August 1916, when 785 men out of an approximate strength of 1000, were either killed or wounded. Skinner was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on 4 and 5 August. Skinner was promoted to corporal on the following day, and to lance sergeant on 31 October. He was killed during the Battle of Flers on 5 November 1916. His body was later buried at the Warlencourt British Cemetery. Abel Skinner had served with a school friend from Casino, William Harold McMullan (also spelt McMillan). They served in the same battalion, each was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the same action at Pozieres, and both were killed on the same day at Flers. Both are buried in the Warlencourt cemetery. Abel's brother, Albert Jonathan Skinner, enlisted in the AIF in september 1916 and was assigned to 36 Battalion. Three times wounded and twice gassed, he survived the war and served again in the Second World War.