| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | 052217 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
MELBOURNE, VIC. 1943-06-03. PRESENTATION OF AMERICAN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSSES (DSC) TO MRS ...
Description
MELBOURNE, VIC. 1943-06-03. PRESENTATION OF AMERICAN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSSES (DSC) TO MRS OWEN (WIFE OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. T. OWEN), AND MRS WALKER (MOTHER OF LIEUTENANT I. WALKER), IN THE GROUNDS OF THE 4TH AMERICAN GENERAL HOSPITAL, MELBOURNE. BOTH OFFICERS WERE KILLED CARRYING OUT DEEDS WHICH WON THEM THEIR AWARDS. LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. T. OWEN GAINED THE AWARD FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN AN ACTION AT KOKODA ON 1942-07-27, WHILE LIEUTENANT I. WALKER GAINED HIS AWARD FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN AN ACTION NEAR BUNA. THE AWARD TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL OWEN WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN AWARD WON BY AN AUSTRALIAN. COLONEL F. L. BURNS, C.O. BASE SECTION 4, U.S. FORCES, SHAKING HANDS WITH MRS OWEN AFTER PRESENTATION OF DSC.