British War Medal 1914-20 : Private H J Rockliff, 11 Battalion AIF

British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

91 Private Harold John Rockliff was one of four sons of Eliza Mary Tulloch to serve during the First World War. He was born at Summer Hill in Sydney, NSW on 1 May 1894 and was an employee at the Perth Mint when he enlisted in the AIF, aged 20 years, on 17 August 1914. Rockliff embarked from Fremantle with A Company, 11 Battalion, aboard HMAT Ascanius on 2 November 1914. After a period of training in Egypt and Lemnos, Rockliff landed at Gallipoli with his battalion on 25 April 1915. He was wounded in the back the same day and was evacuated by sea to Malta, arriving there on 5 May aboard HMT Clan McGillivray. Rockliff was discharged to duty in Malta and rejoined his unit at Gallipoli on 13 June. The next day Rockliff was admitted to hospital on Gallipoli, sick and then evacuated to hospital in Egypt, via Lemnos. He was recovering and on light duties in Egypt when he developed measles and was admitted to another hospital. In January 1916 when he was sent home to Australia for rest. After some time in Australia Rockliff embarked again for overseas service with 25 Howitzer Brigade. He was allocated a new service number, 27011 and was now a driver. His brother George also enlisted around this time and was allocated to the same unit, with the service number 27012. Both embarked on 7 September 1916 with the 6th reinforcements aboard HMAT Port Sydney from Melbourne, arriving in England on 29 October. After a period of training in England Rockcliff proceeded to France in January 1917 and was posted to 51 Battery. He was sick in hospital for two weeks in March before rejoining his unit, and was hospitalised again in October and November. On 12 December he was wounded, receiving a major shell wound to the head from a bomb dropped from a German aircraft. Rockcliff was evacuated to England for medical treatment, where he remained for the rest of the war. He had received a compound fracture and lost some bone in the occipital region. Rockliff suffered headaches and had problems with his sight as a result of his wound. He returned to Australia in August 1918 and was discharged on 30 October. Harold Rockliff died in 1920 from war related causes.