| Accession Number | REL/02449.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Medal |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1920 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
British War Medal 1914-20: Private Charles Alfred Coward, 4 Motor Transport Company, AIF
Description
British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
History / Summary
1772 Private Charles Alfred Coward enlisted in the AIF on 16 August 1915 at Melbourne, Victoria. Coward embarked with 9 Reinforcements, 13 Light Horse from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ayrshire on 3 July 1916 and trained in England from September.
In January 1917, he transferred from the Light Horse to the Australian Mechanical Transport Service (AMTS). After serving as a driver at Tidworth, England for a year he embarked for France. He served with the 2nd Ammunition Sub Park for three months before he was attached for duty with 4 Australian Field Ambulance.
Coward was awarded the Military Medal for evacuating wounded soldiers in his Ford ambulance while under German shell fire over a period of 28 hours from 18 to 19 September 1918. The following April, Coward was transported to England for demobilisation. He returned to Australia on 20 August 1919 and was discharged in October.