Defence Medal : I G Fitchett, Australian War Correspondent

Defence Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Journalist with the Daily Telegraph. Enlisted in AIF 1939. Sailed as a Sergeant with 2/4 Battalion AIF. Fitchett was the first Official War Correspondent Middle East. In the absence of an Australian War Correspondent in the Middle East he was the appointed Offical War Correspondent Middle East (acting), awaiting the arrival of Kenneth Slessor. His appointment was confirmed in 1941. He covered the Libyan campaign and was in the Tobruk seige before going to Malaya. Sent to Malaya he was AIF Official War Correspondent for 8th Division between December 1941 and Febraury 1942. Evacuated from Singapore he left the Australian service to become Daily Express War Correspondent for South-East Asia Command 1943-45.