Place | Europe: France |
---|---|
Accession Number | REL40912.001 |
Collection type | Heraldry |
Object type | Award |
Physical description | Enamel, Silver gilt |
Maker |
Unknown |
Place made | United Kingdom |
Date made | c 1918 |
Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Distinguished Service Order : Major T B Slaney, 8 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF
Distinguished Service Order (Geo V). Unnamed as issued.
Thomas Browne Slaney was born in Melbourne on 9 August 1890. In 1912 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the militia, with 20 Battery, Australian Fortress Artillery. On the outbreak of the First World War Slaney was working as a clerk when he enlisted as a second lieutenant in the AIF on 28 September 1914 as reinforcement to 2nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade (2 FAB).
The reinforcements embarked on HMAT ‘Borda’ in Melbourne on 22 December 1914, arriving at Mena Camp in Egypt on 10 February 1915. It was around this time that he was promoted to lieutenant. Attached to the brigade’s ammunition column, Slaney was temporarily seconded to 1st Division Ammunition Column. During the Gallipoli landings he was present on board the transport ‘Atlantian’ assisting in offloading horse boats at Cape Helles, before it anchored offshore at Anzac later in the day. He subsequently returned to Alexandria.
After transferring back to 2 FAB’s Ammunition Column, Slaney joined his unit on Gallipoli on 2 August. Another secondment followed on 14 August, this time to 2 FAB Headquarters on Anzac, as acting adjutant. The following month Slaney was evacuated from the peninsula suffering from enteric fever. He later underwent surgery before returning to Australia in January 1916 for a ‘three months change’.
On 29 July he re-embarked on HMAT ‘Orsova’ in command of 8 FAB’s reinforcements, bound for England. He joined 2 FAB’s 6th Battery in France on 24 November. Following a period at the Australian General Base Depot in Etaples and promotion to captain on 21 January 1917, Slaney was transferred to 3 FAB Ammunition Column. During the period of his posting the unit served in operations around Gueudecourt, Hermies, Demicourt, Messines, Menin Road and Polygon Wood.
By the end of September the quality of Slaney’s work with 3 FAB was being recognised after he had acted as commander of the ammunition column, and later an artillery battery. Following operations at Polygon Wood an undefined recommendation was forwarded by the commander of 3 FAB, Lieutenant Colonel George Ingram Stevenson, on 20 September noting Slaney’s his excellent work during fighting around Ypres.
Promoted to temporary major on 1 October 1917, the promotion was made substantive on 17 November while Slaney was on leave in England. In January 1918 he completed a Battery Commanders’ Artillery Course and on 4 May he was transferred to command 29th Battery of 8 FAB. By the end of the same month Slaney again received recognition for his conspicuous service when he was mentioned in the despatches of Sir Douglas Haig.
On 8 August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens on what German General Erich Ludendorff described as ‘the black day of the German army’, 3 FAB’s batteries advanced from Hamel to near Morcourt when the British Division on their left flank was held up, leaving them exposed to observation and enemy fire from Mallard Wood. Continuing to move forward, the batteries reached Morcourt that evening with a relatively light casualty count of 3 killed and 7 wounded. Later in the month Slaney, together with the other battery commanders, reconnoitred north of the Somme before positioning their units forward.
On occasion in the weeks that followed the situation on the flanks and forward of the batteries as they advanced was not always clear and officers and men were sent out to gather intelligence. For his actions during this period Slaney was awarded a Distinguished Service Order. A recommendation for the award, dated 3 September, reads:
‘Right throughout the recent operations from 8th August to date, this Officer has shown conspicuous energy, initiative and enterprise in pushing forward, obtaining information and establishing very forward O.P.s [observation posts] and obtaining and keeping Brigade Headquarters constantly supplied with information as to the tactical situation, and with hostile movements, etc., by means of which the fire of his Battery and the Brigade has been able to be directed on to the targets where it was most needed, very often at critical periods. He has also most capably commanded his Battery during the period, advancing his Battery from time to time in close support of the infantry, during practically the whole of which, he and his Battery, have been under hostile shell fire, and on several occasions under machine Gun and Rifle Fire. On two occasions, his Battery, together with other Batteries of the Brigade, has been brought into action less than 1200 yards from the Infantry Front Line. During the whole time he has shown an absolute disregard for his personal safety, and has been an excellent example to both officers and men.’
A recommendation for the same award forwarded on 19 September extended the period of his activities from 25 February 1918 to the night of 16/17 September, noting that his ‘gallantry is notorious’. Further recognition followed with another Mention in Despatches on 31 December.
Slaney returned to Australia on 25 April 1919 and was discharged on 17 June though his involvement with the military continued. On 1 August 1926 he was given command of the 8th Australian Field Artillery Brigade militia. The following year he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He relinquished his position with the unit in September 1932.
During the Second World War he commanded the Artillery Training Depots in Victoria as temporary colonel. Slaney died at Mornington, Victoria on 6 February 1974. A brother, Henry Browne Slaney, also served with 2 FAB during the First World War.
- 1914-15 Star : Second Lieutenant T B Slaney, 1 Division Artillery, AIF
- British War Medal 1914-20 : Major T B Slaney, 8 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF
- Victory Medal with MID : Major T B Slaney, 8 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF
- British War Medal 1939-45 : Colonel T B Slaney, 3 Military District Artillery Training Depots, AIF
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration : Colonel T B Slaney, Australian Field Artillery