Military Medal and bar: Sergeant John Reginald Storer, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, AIF

Military Medal and bar (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Contained in a double-sided glass case set in a black leather frame tooled in gold and purple on each side. Both sides are stamped at the top 'SERGEANT J.E. STORER' and have a gold and purple repesentation of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion's colour patch on each long side. One side is stamped at the bottom 'AWARDED FOR BRAVERY AT GAILEY CROSS ON AUGUST 8 1918', the other side 'KILLED IN ACTION AT MONT BREHAIN 5 OCTOBER 1918'.

Born in Enmore, Sydney, New South Wales, John Reginald Storer was employed as a fitter and turner when he enlisted in the AIF on 28 April 1915. After initial training he was posted a private, service number 1047, to C Company of the newly raised 19th Battalion. The unit sailed from Sydney on 15 June, aboard HMAT A40 Ceramic. Before the battalion landed on Gallipoli in August, Storer was transferred to the 4th Field Company Engineers, and he served with them on the peninsula from 3 September. He rejoined the 19th Battalion at the end of the year.

The battalion arrived in France in March 1916, but before it took part in any fighting Storer, by now a corporal, was again transferred, on 20 June, to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. Storer was promoted sergeant in August 1917. On 30 September, while the pioneers were camped at Swan Chateau in a reserve area of the Ypres sector in Belgium, Storer received a shrapnel wound to his left thigh when a German aircraft bombed the camp at night. He was evacuated to England for medical treatment and did not rejoin his unit until 11 December.

Storer was a the Military Medal on 8 August 1918 east of Amiens, France. The recommendation for the award reads: 'For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 8th August 1918 during operations east of Amiens. He reconnoitered the road to Cerisy Gailly moving with the advancing infantry and coming under machine gun and rifle fire, and later he again showed great determination, coolness and devotion to duty in repairing road in vicinity of GAILLY CROSS where he and his party came under shell fire and close enfilade machine gun fire, which played on the road where they were. He showed absolute disregard for danger and by his example kept the men at work on repairs urgently needed so that the 18 pdrs could get forward. In this operation and the operations leading up to it Sgt. Storer has shown unfailing devotion to duty'.

Towards the end of the war in 1918 the shortage of front line troops was so acute that the 2nd Pioneers were detailed to fight as infantrymen at Montbrehain, on 5 October, in what proved to be the last action fought by the AIF in the war. Storer was returning after the successful advance when he was hit and killed by a high explosive shell. He was 22. Five other men also died. Most witnesses attributed his death to 'concussion' as no mark could be seen on his body, but one witness stated that there was a small wound in his back where a shrapnel fragment had entered his body. It was also noted that he had been wearing the ribbon of the Military Medal on his jacket, which had been awarded to him in August 'for coolness, determination, devotion to duty and absolute disregard for danger'. The dead were buried by relieving American troops the following day. The battalion held a memorial service for those who had been lost on 13 October.

Storer was awarded a retropective posthumous bar to his Military Medal. The recommendation for this award (originally for the award of a Meritorious Service Medal) reads: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, especially since Battalion moved to SOMME Area early in April. During the gas shell bombardment at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX on 27:7:18 his skilful handling of the platoon whilst under the bombardment and his prompt actions afterwards resulted in the casualties being light. Though badly shaken and weary he took great precaution to minimise the effects of gas, went to a dressing station, found out what to do and applied preventative measures to the platoon. On 8:8:18 he showed remarkable courage in working under heavy fire and in making a road reconnaissance. This N.C.O. has been through all forward operations we have been in since April and during operations incidental to capture of MONT St. QUENTIN he commanded a platoon that did splendid work in repairing forward roads'.

Storer's body was not recovered for burial in a military cemetery after the war and his name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. His eldest brother, 'Harry' Storer, had been killed at Gueudecourt in February 1917.