Lot 4730

Description

Pair: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 4889 CQMS. A.V.Watson. 53-Bn. A.I.F. Both medals impressed. No ribbons, fine - very fine.

Entitled to Belgian Croix de Guerre: LG 5/4/1919, p4528, posn 9; CAG 23/7/1919, p1170, posn 15.

Recommendation: During the attack on Peronne on 1st September, 1918, he brought forward ammunition, water and rations to the front line under very heavy artillery and machine gun fire. Once when his ration party was all wounded he collected the stragglers from all units and stretcher bearers returning from the R.A.P. and formed a carrying party from these. He continued this work throughout the whole night, displaying remarkable courage and initiative. It was solely owing to this N.C.O. that the rations for his Company were taken forward to the front line.

Albert Victor Watson, railway officer, age 25, born at Cooks Hill, Newcastle, NSW; Enl.11Aug1915 at Newcastle with permission granted by District Superintendent, Newcastle, NSWGR to join AIF; Emb.08Mar1916; arrived France 27Jun1916 entering front line at Fromelles with unit losing Commanding Officer and 625 casualties, three-quarters of its attacking force; 53rd Bn spent freezing winter in trench warfare in Somme valley then sent to Ypres in Belgium with major battle at Polygon Wood on 26Sep1917 and another major battle at St Quentin on 29Sep1918; RTA 09Aug1919; Disch.25Jan1920.

With research.