Improvised stretcher bearer's armband : Corporal H H Corney, 24th Battalion, AIF

Length of roughly torn cream wool flannel with the letters 'S B', cut from a piece of red cotton fabric, tacked to the centre with white cotton. The back of the armband is marked in purple indelible pencil 'POZIERS July-August 1916'. An accompanying handwritten note (.002) reads 'Armlet for Stretcher Bearer made and sent by my son then Corporal H Hume Corney at battle of Pozieres 1916 when he was awarded the Military Medal and his brother Capt. F. R. Corney for work done at same battle the night before - the two brothers met for a few minutes as one was going out of the trenches and the other going on to the battlefield to gather up the wounded. R.L. Corney (Mother)'.

This improvised armband was worn by 1764 Private Hubert Hume Corney during the battle of Pozieres in France in 1916, when he acted as a stretcher bearer for 24th Battalion, AIF. For his work he was awarded the Military Medal. The recommendation reads, 'Pte CORNEY acted as Stretcher Bearer and carried men from OG2 across the open to the first dressing station. He had to pass through heavy shell fire on his way to the station. He put aside all consideration of personal safety for the comfort and relief of his wounded comrades.'

Corney, a bank clerk, enlisted in the 24th Battalion on 28 May 1915. He was wounded on Gallipoli before serving in France and Belgium. In 1917 Corney transferred to 21st Battalion and was commissioned a lieutenant. He was killed in action near Zonnebeke, during the Third Battle of Ypres, on 9 October 1917. His brother, Captain F R Corney was a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon and was awarded the Military Cross at Pozieres. He survived the war.

• Note regarding improvised stretcher bearer's armband : Corporal H H Corney, 24 Battalion, AIF