St Kilda tribute medal : Second Air Mechanic Jack Markey, Australian Flying Corps

9 carat gold and dark blue enamel tribute medal presented to Second Air Mechanic Jack Markey on his return to Australia after the First World War.

Obverse features shows the British coat of arms in the centre, mermaids, together with a sailing ship and building above the motto 'AURA FAVENTE FEROR', all within a dark blue enamel band bearing gold lettering, 'PRESENTED BY THE CITIZENS OF ST. KILDA'.

Reverse is engraved with the inscription 'To A. Mech. J. Markey' and raised lettering 'ENLISTED & EMBARKED IN 1914 THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR 1914-18'.

John Doddington Ritchie 'Jack' Markey was born in Punjab, India on 29 July 1897. It is unknown when he arrived in Australia though he enlisted in the AIF on 20 August 1914 at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne and was allotted service number 15. Although he stated his age as 19 years 6 months, he admitted after the war that he was only 17 at the time. Originally assigned as a driver with Headquarters, 1st Australian Division, he embarked from Australia on 21 October 1914 aboard HMAT 'Orvieto' and saw service in Alexandria and Cairo. AWM photo J02158 shows him as a divisional groom. He may have assumed this role on the Orvieto, the flagship of the first troop convoy to leave Australia, which carried only 23 horses, all belonging to the AIF's senior officers. In 1916 he moved to France with his unit; in August 1916 he was transferred to the 1st Pioneer Battalion.

Markey remained with this unit until transferring to the Australian Flying Corps on 1 October 1917 with the rank of air mechanic. After attending the Armourer’s School at Perivale (England) in December 1917/January 1918, he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps No 2 School of Military Aeronautics on 1 February as a cadet pilot. Markey apparently did not succeed in the course as he was returned to his unit on 26 March, relinquished his cadet status, and reverted to air mechanic. He returned to France to join 4 Squadron AFC in June. In September 1918 he was withdrawn from active service and returned to Australia due to his status as a 1914 enlistee. He was discharged from service on 21 January 1919.

Following the war Markey's whereabouts remain unclear. He may have travelled to Canada to start life as a farmer before moving to Natal, South Africa. Markey died while visiting his daughter in Canada in 1975.

This gold tribute medallion was presented to all 1914 enlistees from the citizens of St Kilda. Two presentations were held, one in November 1918 (98 recipients) and one in May 1919 (90 recipients); due to 'the influenza restrictions, a second welcome could not be held sooner' (Malvern Standard, 10 May 1919 p 2). One both occasions, the welcome was organised by the St Kilda Patriotic Committee and held at the St Kilda Town Hall; the Town Hall was decorated in garlands of evergreens, flowers, red white and blue lights and 'the colours of St Kilda battalions framed in gold laurel wreaths' (The Australasian, 17 May 1919, p 36). Entertainments and refreshments were provided before each man was presented with his gold medallion. Jack Markey attended the May 1919 function.