British War Medal 1914-20: Sapper E C Gallard, 1st Australian Wireless & Signal Squadron, AIF

British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Edward Charles Gallard, an electrical fitter with the Sydney Tramways Department, enlisted in the AIF on 18 May 1917, shortly before his twentieth birthday. He had already served two years in the militia, with the 33rd Fortress Company, Australian Engineers.

Sent to the Sydney Showground Camp for basic training, Gallard was assigned as a sapper, with the service number 205070, to No. 1 Wireless Signal Squadron and sent to the Wireless Training School for specialist training. Graduating from the school at the end of November he was posted to the Light Motor Wireless Section, and sailed for Egypt from Sydney aboard the transport HMAT Ulysses in December. The Section embarked for Bombay aboard HMAT Eastern at the end of February 1918, then transferred to HMAT Varsova for the voyage to Basra in Mespotamia. The men joined the Anzac Wireless Section at Baghdad on 28 March, where Gallard was assigned to D Troop (Motor) of the Light Motor Wireless Section, 1st Australian Wireless and Signal Squadron, which was part of Britain's Dunsterforce.

During the First World War more than 500 Australians saw service in signalling units in Mespotamia and Kurdistan. They were mainly technical troops who provided communications between base areas and mounted columns operating in remote areas on the upper Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and in Kurdistan. Although wireless telegraphy was still in its infancy it was of great importance in Mespotamia which had limited telegraph and telephone capability. Because Britain had insufficient trained wireless operators and wireless equipment Australia was asked to assist operations in the area. Skilled troops were sent to Mesopotamia in December 1915 and in January and August 1917. Gallard was a member of the last group, and his D Troop, using Ford motor cars, was the last AIF unit to fight under fire, in October 1919.

Each wireless troop was divided into sections, staffed by 7 wireless operators and 6 drivers, which operated independently. D Troop had 5 mobile stations in different locations, with its headquarters in Baghdad, and used horse, mule and motor transport. Only D Troop remained after the formal end of the First World War in 1918, although Australia insisted that its married members should be released and only single men remained. In May 1919 Gallard was sent to Amadiya, Kurdistan, to provide communications for Sergeant Troup of the British political staff. The wireless station left Amadiya on 28 June because of increasing hostility and as it withdrew Gallard had to transmit the news of Sergeant Troup's murder there. In response, an infantry company and Gallard's wireless station were sent back to Amadiya to investigate, but were again forced to withdraw when they were attacked. While the wireless section's drivers could take shelter when under attack the wireless operators were often at risk of sniper attack as their stations usually had to be set up on a hilltop.

Gallard was sent back to Baghdad to supervise D Troop's motorcycle section while other Australian signallers supported two armed columns that moved constantly in pursuit of the rebel Kurds. D Troop was withdrawn from Mesopotamia in November and travelled home to Sydney via Bombay. Gallard was discharged on 28 January 1920.

Post-war Gallard continued his career as an electrical engineer. As a result of his service he also became a keen radio ham. During the Second World War he established a partnership with a chemical engineer, producing electrical components for RAAF training aircraft. He died in 1979.