Lot 5028

Description

Shire Of Heidelberg, Victoria, 1915, tribute medal in bronze (30mm) (C.1915/16), by Stokes & Sons, reverse inscribed, 'L.McBride'. Toned good very fine and scarce.

L. McBride, a member of the Fairfield Junior Football Club in the Shire of Heidelberg, volunteered for AIF service along with several other members of the club. His employer at the time, a firm of printers and publishers and lithographers, wrote a letter consenting to him enlisting with the offer of him being accepted back into their employ when he returned from service.

Leonard Lamont McBride, bookbinder, age 20, born at Faifield Park, Melbourne, Vic; Enl.23Sep1915 in 4Fld Arty Bde at Melbourne, Vic, with previous service of 4 years in CMF with 55Infy Bn; Emb.18Nov1915 as Driver and proceeded to join M.E.F.; Trf to 19th Battery 08Mar1916; TOS 22 FAB 13May1916; to France 14Jun1916; TOS 4 FAB 27Jan1917; RTA 13Jul1919; Disemb.29Aug1919; Disch.21Oct1919.

Some years after the war on 1 March 1938, Leonard McBride, now 42 years old, was working at a paper-cutting machine in the Commonwealth note printing branch at Fitzroy in Victoria. His hand was caught under the falling blade of the machine and as a result two of his fingers were severed, his hand severely lacerated and he was admitted to St Vincent's Hospital suffering from shock and loss of blood.