Studio portrait of 2252/1820 Private (Pte) John Dougald Wallace, 8th Battalion, of Wonwondah East ...

Studio portrait of 2252/1820 Private (Pte) John Dougald Wallace, 8th Battalion, of Wonwondah East near Horsham, Vic. A student at Longeronong Agricultural College prior to enlistment, Pte Wallace embarked with the 6th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Wandilla on 17 June 1915. Pte Wallace served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front in a number of different units after transferring from the 8th Battalion. These included the 60th Battalion, 58th Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Brigade, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column and the 5th Divisional Trench Mortar Brigade. He was wounded many times during his service. Whilst serving as a gunner with the 5th Medium Trench Mortar Battery, he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on the night of 19 February 1918, east of Messines. While under enemy fire, 'The crews of both guns were knocked over by the concussion of a shell and Corporal Fremantle who was in charge of No. 1 gun and Gunner Wallace who was in charge of No. 2 gun pulled their men together and continued to fire, both behaving with exemplary coolness, courage and devotion to duty, and setting a splendid example to the remainder fo the detachment.' Promoted to bombardier, Wallace was killed in action on 19 August 1918 in France, aged 23.