Informal portrait of Second Lieutenant Herbert Richard Byrne (with wallaby mascot), 2nd Field ...

Informal portrait of Second Lieutenant Herbert Richard Byrne (with wallaby mascot), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (2 FAB). A manufacturer's agent from East Malvern, Victoria, and with five years service in the Australian Field Artillery prior to enlistment, he embarked with 2 FAB, DAC, from Melbourne on 20 October 1914 aboard HMAT Shropshire (A 9) for Egypt. In February 1915 he was promoted to Lieutenant (Lt). His unit landed at Gallipoli and Lt Byrne served until mid-September when he was evacuated to Malta then Italy as a result of illness and was not able to rejoin until 2 FAB had been withdrawn to Egypt. Lt Byrne was promoted to Captain (Capt) and Adjutant of 2 FAB in mid-March 1916 and later that month the brigade relocated to the Western Front, France. Capt Byrne was appointed to command A Battery in early November 1916 and then in the following January he was transferred to 1 FAB. In February 1917 he was promoted to Major (Maj). He was wounded in action near Ypres on 17 October 1917 but remained at his post until he was wounded in action a second time 5 days later when he was ordered to leave his battery. For his bravery, devotion to duty, example, and welfare of his men, he was awarded the DSO and MID. Maj Byrne returned to Australia via Vancouver, and arrived in Sydney on 21 December 1918 for discharge in late February 1919.