Belgian Croix de Guerre : Private P E Monck, 55 Battalion, AIF

Belgian Croix de Guerre. Unnamed as issued. The medal and crown have separated, and the ribbon is missing. The owner has had his initials (PM) engraved into the upper arm of the reverse of the medal.

Related to the service of 2184 Private Peter Eugene Monck, born 22 June 1894, a farmer of Pambula, NSW, who enlisted at Bombala on 9 January 1916 aged 21 years 6 months. his pre-war membership of the Pambula Rifle Club led to an expertise in sniping which he later employed in France.

Monck's two elder brothers Stephen Bertram Monck and Charles James Maguire Monck both enlisted three or four days later, also in 55 Battalion. After initial training. Peter Monck embarked for overseas service aboard the transport 'Port Sydney', which left Sydney on 4 September, arriving Plymouth 29 October 1916. After a month with 14 Training Battalion, he arrived in France on 14 December, finally joining his unit on Christmas Eve 1916 where they were resting and billeted at Buire-sur-l'Ancre.

Private Monck was shot in the right foot on 18 May 1917 as 55 Battalion was relieving 56 Battalion to the west of Noreuil during the Second Battle of Bullecourt. He was evacuated back to England for treatment at 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. After convalescence, he returned to his unit via the Overseas Training Brigade on 26 October 1917. After his battalion's work at Villers-Bretonneux, Monck was attached to 14 Brigade Headquarters Guard on 10 June 1918, remaining in this position until the end of the war. After taking leave in England from 2 December to 4 January, he received news that he had been awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre, announced in the London Gazette of 5 April 1919, Fourth Supplement, No 31275. Originally recommended for a Military Medal, Monck was awarded a Belgian Croix de Guerre instead.

This award relates to his 'conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty' during a patrol action at Villers-Bretonneux on 17 May 1918. His citation reads 'The patrol located and attacked two enemy posts. In the hand-to-hand fight which ensued. Pte Monck was faced by two of the enemy. After a short struggle he succeeded in killing one of his opponents and detaching the other from the remainder of the garrison. The lonely Boche, acknowledging defeat, surrendered and was escorted by Pte Monck back to our lines. This display of pluck and perseverance by this brave soldier was an inspiration to those about him, who fought hard until the enterprise was successfully concluded.' This patrol is mentioned in the Official History (volume VI, p 44) as a prime example of the Australian practice of peaceful penetration, and notes that it was led by Lieutenant D T W Neville, MC, DCM, and that the captured German belonged to 419 Infantry Regiment, 77 Reserve Division. Attempts by German pickets to advance from Vaire Wood to effect a rescue were driven back until the patrol returned to the lines.

Peter Monck returned to Australia aboard the transport 'Beltana', and was discharged from military service in Sydney on 4 September 1919. The diploma for his Belgian Croix de Guerre was delivered to him at Pambula on 12 December 1922.

Monck's eldest brother Stephen was shot in the back in September 1917, but recovered and returned to service. He was wounded on two further occasions in late 1918 (in his back again on the second occasion); on the third occasion he remained at his post. Elder brother Charles was posted to the Australian Employment Company and in March 1918 was accidentally burned by acid on his face and arms, and spent a month in hospital before rejoining his unit.

• British War Medal 1914-20 : Private P E Monck, 55 Battalion, AIF
• Victory Medal : Private P E Monck, 55 Battalion, AIF