Victory Medal : Private W Finch, 29 Battalion AIF

Victory Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Associated with the service of 4293 Private Walter Finch, 29 Battalion AIF. Finch was born in Orange, NSW in 1888 and was a miner on enlistment in the 29th Battalion on 11 September 1916. He embarked from Sydney for overseas service with the 11th Reinforcements of 29 Battalion aboard HMAT Afric on 3 November, arriving in Plymouth, England on 9 January 1917.

Joining the 8th Training Battalion, Finch proceeded overseas to France on 15 March and was taken on strength in the field by 29 Battalion on 22 March. He was admitted to the 1st General Hospital at Rouen on 13 June suffering Bronchitis and was invalided back to England aboard the Hospital Ship Aberdonian on 16 June.

On 15 August a medical report written on Finch's condition indicated that, prior to his enlistment in the AIF, he had been treated for Miners Phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis) and that this condition had been aggravated by his active military service. In recommending Finch be discharged from the AIF as permanently unfit the report described his condition as 'Very short of breath in bed, cannot sleep at night and pain in left lower axilla. Breathing of asthmatic character.' Finch embarked for return to Australia on 10 September aboard HMAT Ulysses disembarking in Melbourne on 13 November. He was discharged from the AIF on 10 January 1918.