Sergeant Thomas Leslie Axford

Service number	3399
Ranks Held	Corporal, Lance Corporal, Private
Birth Date	18/06/1894
Birth Place	Australia: South Australia, Carrieton
Death Date	11/10/1983
Final Rank	Sergeant
Service	Australian Imperial Force
Unit	16th Australian Infantry Battalion
Place	Carrieton
Conflict/Operation	First World War, 1914-1918

Description

Tom Axford (1894-1983) was born in South Australia but grew up in Coolgardie, Western Australia. At the time of his enlistment he was working in Kalgoorlie. Axford arrived in France in 1916 and was treated for shell-shock in August. A year later he received shrapnel wounds and was out of action for four months. In 1918 he was awarded the Military Medal, but his finest hour came in July that year.

During the battle of Hamel, Axford assisted an adjoining platoon by attacking an enemy machine-gun position with bombs and bayonet, killing ten Germans and capturing six, allowing the platoon to come forward and join him in the advance. Of his action he later commented, "I must have been mad". He was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Axford served in a headquarters unit in Western Australia during the Second World War. In his civilian life he was a clerk and a businessman.

Collection items

Rolls

Honours and Awards:

Unit

16th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lance Corporal
Honours and Awards:

Unit

16th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lance Corporal
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Unit

16th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Private
First World War Embarkation Roll:

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Private
First World War Nominal Roll:

Unit

16th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Corporal

Timeline

Date of birth	18/06/1894
Other	1912 - 1915	Served in the 84th Infantry Regiment of the Australian military Forces.
Date of enlistment	09/08/1915
Date of embarkation	01/11/1915	Embarked on HMAT Benalla.
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)	19/07/1915	Allocation to the 11th Reinforcements of the 16th Battalion.
Date wounded	08/1916	Shell shocked.
Date wounded	08/1917
Date of honour or award	04/07/1918	Awarded the Victoria Cross for action at Vaire and Hamel Woods.
Date promoted	07/1918	Promoted to Corporal.
Date returned to Australia	19/10/1918
Date of recommendation honour or award	05/07/1918
Date promoted	02/1918	Promoted to Lance Corporal.
Date of honour or award	07/1918	Awarded the Military Medal.
Date of discharge	06/02/1919	Discharged in Perth.
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)	25/06/1941	Served with the Western Australian Echelon and Records Office.
Date of discharge	14/04/1947	Discharged with the rank of Sergeant.
Date of death	11/10/1983