Military Medal : Private W G Kite, 56 Battalion, AIF

Place Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Amiens Harbonnieres Area, Villers-Bretonneux Area, Villers-Bretonneux
Accession Number REL22873.002
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Award
Physical description Silver
Maker Unknown
Place made United Kingdom
Date made c 1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Military Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

History / Summary

1680 Lance Corporal William George Kite, a 22 year old labourer from Namburra via Temora, NSW, enlisted 20 January 1916 in the 2nd Reinforcements of 56 Battalion, AIF. He returned to Australia on 23 June 1919. Kite was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 1 September 1918 at Peronne. He had previously been awarded the Military Medal on 24 April 1918 for operations near Villers Bretonneux. The citation for this award is unavailable. An officer noted of him 'He is quite a remarkable man, in that he appears to have no fear. Above all his cheerfulness is contagious.' Kite also served in the Second World War as a signalman in the Australian Signals Training Battalion, with the service number N79711. He enlisted on October 1940 and was discharged in September 1946.