YMCA Australian Rules medalet : Corporal A J Murray, 102 Howitzer Battery, AIF

The obverse of this silver medalet has a map of Australia in the centre superimposed with an inverted triangle and a small Rising Sun badge. Over this are the letters 'YMCA'. The reverse has the maker's mark JRG&S (for J R Gaunt & Sons) and silver hallmarks (anchor, lion and t for Birmingham 1918) at the top and the engraved words 'AUS RULE FOOTBALL Competition CPL. A.J. MURRAY 102. HOW. Batt. FRANCE 1919'.

2201 Corporal Alex James Murray, a farm hand from Penong in South Australia, enlisted in the AIF on 1 December 1915 aged 21. He was assigned as a Private to 15 Reinforcements of 3 Light Horse Regiment and sailed from Adelaide on board HMAT Anchises on 16 March 1916. On 15 May that year he transferred to the Artillery and served with 116 Howitzer Battery from October 1916 to March 1917. It was during this period that he was awarded the Military Medal which was published in the London Gazette on 25 September 1918. The citation for this award is unavailable. In April 1917 Murray transferred to 102 Howitzer Battery and was promoted to Bombardier on 29 April 1918 and Temporary Corporal on 25 October. He embarked for return to Australia in May 1919 and was discharged on 11 August 1919.