| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Albert Bapaume Area, Pozieres Area, Pozieres |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM15884.002 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Award |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Military Medal : Private Thornleigh Gordon Hyde, 1st Battalion, AIF
Description
Military Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
History / Summary
Born in Bombala, NSW, 1887 Private Thornleigh Hyde was employed as a hairdresser (barber) in Sydney when he enlisted in the AIF on 8 June 1915. He had married Helen Leighton Steele in 1909.
Hyde was assigned as a private, service number 4035, to reinforcements for the 1st Infantry Battalion, and sailed for Egypt from Sydney aboard RMS Mooltan on 11 December. He took with him his hair cutting equipment and once he joined his battalion in Egypt, in February 1916, was given permission to work as one of the battalion's barbers, which effectively allowed him to operate a small private business when he was not required for active duties.
The battalion moved to France for service on the Western Front and Hyde was awarded the Military Medal for his leadership at Pozieres during the battalion's first major action in France. The recommendation for the award reads: 'At POZIERES, FRANCE, on 23rd of July 1916. Pte. HYDE was cut off from his Company and found numbers of leaderless men. On five different occasions he organised parties of these men and led them to the firing line, placing them in charge of an Officer. On two occasions he brought an Officer to lead parties of men who had lost or become separated from their Officers. Later he rejoined his Company and worked well, carrying despatches for his Company.'
In October Hyde was appointed batman to one of the battalion's officers (name unknown), probably from his own C Company. He accompanied him to Britain while he undertook senior officer training and then remained there on leave, returning to France at the end of January 1917. Hyde was evacuated to England at the end of March 1917, suffering from trench fever. He was not classed fit for active service for another 11 months. Shortly after rejoining his battalion he was again evacuated with trench fever, this time for only a month.
Hyde was killed by machine gun fire on 18 September 1918 while advancing in the Roisel-Hesbecourt-Hargicourt sector of the Hindenberg Line, as part of the allied offensive in the final stages of the war. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.