4331 CQMS Norman Leslie Armstrong, DCM, WIA



4336 CQMS Norman Leslie Armstrong
DCM, (WIA)
2nd Australian Infantry Battalion
8th Infantry Brigade
1st Division
1st Australian Imperial Force

This file last updated 28 May, 2025 13:12

Introduction

Norman Leslie Armstrong is born in ANNANDALE, SYDNEY 1894, the third youngest child of Henry James Armstrong and Maria née Cripps who married in 1884 in SYDNEY (NSW BDM 1531/1884).

We have not been able to find a photograph of Norman which can be identified beyond doubt, and it is surprising that there was not one taken when he was awarded the DCM. The battalion book "Nulli Secundus: A History of the Second Battalion, AIF, 1914-1919", F.W. TAYLOR AND T.A. CUSACK, New Century Press Pty Ltd, SYDNEY 1942, contains few portraits, possibly due to the period of time between the end of World War 1 and the finalisation of the book.

The Armstrongs are a large family:

Georgina 
Ivan 
Norman Leslie 

NSW BDM 1458/1877,
NSW BDM 7968/1888
NSW BDM 18250/1894

Henry James 
Hilda Elizabeth 
Ethel M. 

NSW BDM 7365/1885
NSW BDM 11405/1889
NSW BDM 110311/1896

Reginald 
Percival 
Edward A. 

NSW BDM 7693/1887
NSW BDM 19199/1891
NSW BDM 28247/1898

He had completed his compulsory cadet service as a Sergeant and a seven year apprenticeship as a joiner with his family's Shop and Office Fitting company.

Norman enlists at LIVERPOOL and completes the medical and other documentation at HOLSWORTHY CAMP, where he undertakes his initial training and is assigned the the 13th Reinforcements to the 3rd Infantry Battalion which at that time iss fighting on GALLIPOLI

Both he and his brother 8183 Sgt Percival Armstrong MM, 6th Field Company Engineers register their Next of Kin as their sister Hilda Elizabeth. This possibly indicates that their parents are not completely enthralled with the idea of them serving even though they are of an age where they can make their own decisions.

By the time he reaches EGYPT in January of 1916 the ANZACs have been withdrawn from GALLIPOLI, some to MUDROS which had been the Command Headquarters and Medical facility but most to EGYPT. In EGYPT the staff are in the process of splitting the ANZAC 1st and 2nd Divisions, and from the veterans in EGYPT and the raw recruits arriving from AUSTRALIA, creating five Australian Infantry Divisions.

It is a period of much confusion and Norman is finally assigned to the 2nd Battalion and embarks with that unit to France, where the men are thrust into the meat grinder that is the SOMME.

He is wounded in action (WIA) when shot in the left shoulder on the 22/23rd of July 1916, one of the 1st Division's 5,285 killed or wounded on that day. [It is not always possible to distinguish on the battlefield between a bullet wound (GSW) and a shrapnel wound (SW). The terms are often interchanged, and because both wounds are treated the same, it makes no difference.]

Recovering from his wound he is promoted to Lance Corporal and attends the Divisional School of Instruction. On returning to his unit he is quickly promoted to Corporal, Lance Sergeant and Sergeant.

Proceeding on leave to PARIS, then LONDON, the conditions that his unit was fighting in catch up with him. Scabies, impetago and general illness resulting in him being medically downgraded, but he is determined to get back to his unit, although he is absent on medical grounds for seven months.

He returns to his unit and shortly afterwards is caught up in the series of massive allied attacks which ended the war.

The Australian Corps Guard

After the amazing success of Lieutenant General John Monash's 3 Aug 1918 attack (although some fighting extended to 10 Aug), by 11 Aug British military dignitaries; King George V, Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Douglas Haig, Brigadier General Sir Henry Lawrence, General Sir Julian Byng, and many others seek him out to convey their congratulations.

Foreseeing this, Monash arranges a 600 man Guard of Honour at Bertangles. This guard comprise 100 men from each Australian Division and another hundred from the Royal Garrison Artillery which had supported the Australian advances. 1 man in every 1,100 is selected for the guard, which is a signal honour for Norman Armstrong who is one of them.

The King takes the royal salute from the guard at the gate and inspects it with Monash. After Monash had introduces his five Divisional commanders he is invested with the regalia of a Knight Commander of the Bath in the field, a unique distinction in the modern era. The award had been promulgated in the New Year's Honours List 1918.

For this battle the French appointed Monash a Grand Officer of the Lègion d'honneur and awarded him the Croix de Guerre avec Palm. The Belgians appointed him a Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown and awarded him the Croix de Geurre and the Americans the Distinguished Service Medal.

He is later to be made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George and on 11 Nov 1929 is promoted to General.

This extract based on information in Monash: The Outsider Who Won a War, Roland Perry, Random House, 2004

Norman is detached to the Australian Corps Guard in Aug 1918 (see sidebar) and returns to the 2nd Battalion 15 Sep 1918. Three days later he takes part in the action which results in him being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His platoon commander was killed early in the action, and, taking over command he fights the unit successfully, overcoming great odds in achieving its directive.

Awaiting return to AUSTRALIA he is promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) and on return he rejoins the family business. CQMS is an appointment rather than a rank, with the incumbent usually holding the rank of Staff Sergeant.

After the war he is much respected by his unit companions who approach him to resolve the question of their qualification for receiving the 1914-15 Star. This group was intended to reinforce the Battalion on GALLIPOLI, but by the time their ship arrived in the MIDDLE EAST, the Australians had withdrawn to EGYPT.

Norman Armstrong marries Maud Sophia Lambkin in 1923 at ROCKDALE [NSW BDM 14256/1923]. Maud, born in GLEBE in 1893 [NSW BDM 13930/1893] is the daughter of Giles and Maud J.K. Lambkin née Edwards, who were married in Sydney in 1892 ([NSW BDM 1094/1892]

Norman Leslie Armstrong DCM dies 24 Nov 1961 at MITTAGONG in the District of ROCKDALE [NSW BDM 3670/1961 and Ryerson Index] and is buried in Woranora Memorial Park NSW Plot LWN 3 0111. His wife Maude Sophia dies 2 Aug 1982 [BDM 18949/1982] and is interred next to her husband. [Note the change of spelling for her first name.]

Norman's documents are listed below. More may come to light when the Australian War Memorial completes its present upgrade of their collection system.

  1. Service Record
  2. Distinguished Conduct Medal Citation
  3. WW1 Embarkation Roll
  4. WW1 Nominal Roll

Abbreviations and Acronyms

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There is also a separate list of abbreviations which is available through the menu at the top of this page or the hyperlink here.  Abbreviations are inconsistent, even within a single occurence where a term is abbreviated.

There are a number of sources for tracing abbreviations used in Australian and New Zealand service records. Those used when operating with the British or US forces can generally be found, especially in World War 1. Abbreviations used solely within Australia in WW2 are most difficult to trace, particularly when they are regional. Sometimes a 'best guess' is the only answer.

Duplicated Pages

Some of the service information may appear to be duplicated although individual occurrences are not in the same order and different abbreviations used. This occurs when the unit and Army records are amalgamated upon discharge or death in Service.

Service Numbers

Service numbers in WW1 were unique to the unit (e.g. Battalion) or Corps (e.g. Artillery). In WW2 Service Numbers were unique to the State in which they were allotted. For further information about identity numbers for Service personnel, see Regimental and Service Numbers

Dates of Occurrence and Reporting

The date of reporting an incident may be hours, days or months after the date on which incident actually occurred.

The original service record is amended only when the incident is reported which means that events are not necessarily recorded in in strict chronological sequence. This is the date shown on the left of the page of the original record, and also on the left in my transcription but readers should note that at times there may be no date of reporting at all, particularly when service personel are repatriated for discharge at the end of hostilities.

To assist the reader, when transcribing the military record I have done my best to record events in their chronological sequence. This is date is on the right of the page of the original record and also on the right in my transcription.

For clarity I have transcribed all dates into the format d MMM yyyy.

AUSTRALIAN   

Australian Coat of Arms

   MILITARY FORCES

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE

Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad

No.   

   4336   

Name   

   ARMSTRONG, Norman Leslie   

Unit   

13th Rein. 3rd. Batt.

[ Withdrawal from Gallipoli and creation of additional Divisions changed unit to 2nd Battalion AIF.]

Joined   

4 Sep 1915

Questions to be put to the Person Enlisting before Attestation

1.

What is your Name?

1.

Norman Leslie Armstrong

2.

Near what Parish or Town were you born?

2.

In the Parish of Annandale
near the City of Sydney
in the County of Cumberland

3.

Are you a natural born British Subject or a Naturalised British Subject? (N.B. — If the latter, papers to be shown)

3.

Yes

4.

What is your age?

4.

21-6/12

5.

What is your trade or calling?

5.

Joiner

6.

Are you, or have you been, an Apprentice? If so, where, to whom, and for what period?

6.

Yes. Armstrong & Sons 7yrs

7.

Are you married?

7.

No

8.

Who is your next of kin? (Address to be stated)

8.

Sister Miss Hilda Armstrong
[Final address]
The Rotoscill Coy 608-614 Harriet St
97 O'Shannessey St
Ultimo Sydney NSW

9.

Have you ever been convicted by the Civil Power?

9.

No

10.

Have you ever been discharged from any part of His Majesty's Forces, with Ignomony, or as Incorrigible and Worthless, or on account of Conviction of Felony, or of a Sentence of Penal Servitude, or have you been dismissed with Disgrace from the Navy?

10.

No

11.

Do you now belong to, or have you ever served in, His Majesty's army, the Marines, the Militia, the Militia, Reserve, the Territorial Force, Royal Navy or Colonial Forces? If so, state which, and if not now serving, state cause of discharge.

11.

38 Inf, Univ Service, 3 years, Sergeant

[Universal Cadet Service in early 1900s]

12.

Have you stated the whole, if any, of your previous service?

12.

Yes

13.

Have you ever been rejected as unfit for His Majesty's Service? If so, on what grounds?

13.

No

14.

(For married men, widowers with children, and soldier who are the sole support of widowed mother) - Do you understand that no separation allowance will be issue in respect of your service beyond an amount which together with pay would reach eight shillings [$A0.80¢] per day?

14.

Yes

15.

Are you prepared to undergo innoculations against small pox and enteric fever?

15.

Yes

I,     Norman Leslie Armstrong     do solemnly declare that the above answers made by me to the above questions are true, and I am will and hereby voluntarily agree to serve in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia within or beyond the limits of the Commonwealth.

* And I further agree to allot not less than two fifths / three fifths of the pay payable to me from time to time during my service for the support of my wife / wife and children.

Date    25/ 9 / 15   

   Signature of person enlisted   

* This clause should be struck out in the case of unmarried men or widowers without children under 18 years of age

†Two-fifths must be allotted to the wife, and if there are children three-fifths must be allotted.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence.

I have taken care that he understands each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him.

I have examined his naturalisation papers and am of opinion that they are correct.

Date    25 /9 / 15    

   Signature of Attesting Officer   

OATH TO BE TAKEN BY PERSON BEING ENLISTED

I,     Norman Leslie Armstrong    swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force from 25 Aug 1915 until the end of the War, and a further period of four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom; and that I will resist His Majesty's enemies and cause His Majesty's peace to be kept and maintained; and that I will in all matters appertaining to my service, faithfully discharge my duty according to law.

   SO HELP ME GOD

   Signature of Person Enlisted      

Taken and subscribed at     Holdsworthy [sic]    in the State of     NSW     this     25th     day of     Sept    1915 before me :—

   Signature of Attesting Officer      

* A person enlisting who objects to taking an oath may make an afformation in accordance with the Third Schedule of the Act, and the above form must be amended accordingly. All amendments must be initialed by the Attesting Officer.

Description of    ARMSTRONG, Norman Leslie     on Enlistment

Age   21   years    —   5 months

Distinctive Marks

[None noted]

Height   5   feet     9    inches

[175cm]

Weight      175    lbs

[79Kg]

Chest    37 — 38½   inches

[94 — 98cm]

Complexion   Fresh

Eyes   Grey, good

Hair   Black

Religious Denomination   Presby

[Presbyterian]

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION

I have examined the above-named person and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz:—

Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence, defects of vision, voice or hearing; hernia; haemorhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendant testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease; chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment, or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C.; contracted or deformed chest abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description.

I consider him fit for active service.

Date    4 / 9 / 15    

Place    Town Hall    

    Signature of Examining Medical Officer    

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

I CERTIFY that this attestation of the above-named person is correct and that the required forms have been complied with. I according approve and appoint him to 13th Rein 3rd Batt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date   14 Dec 15    

Place    Liverpool   

    Signature of Officer Commanding    

Chronological Events

In developing the chronological list of events for this record, I have repeated the convention later developed by clerical staff when examining overseas events, of numbering overseas activities in red as it assists in developing a chronological list. The numbers e.g. 43 can safely be ignored unless attempting to match my record and interpretation with an event in the actual Service Record.

Rank
Description

Medical       Disciplinary       Other

Date Remarks

Recruit

Enlisted

25 Sep 1915

Liverpool

Private

Basic Training completed. Assigned to 13th Reinf 3rd Bn

14 Dec 1915

Liverpool Area

Private

Embarked for Middle East ex Sydney aboard HMAT AENEAS (A60), see Disembarkation details below.

20 Dec 1915

Reassigned to 2nd Battalion about this time

Private

Disembarked AT SUEZ, EGYPT from HMAT A60 and assigned to 1st Training Battalion.

17 Jan 1916

Assigned to 1st Training Battalion.
He later applies for 1914/15 Star and a note in this record which appears to be the calculations used to deny the award as did not serve in an Active Service area during the time prescribed, has the departure date for HMAT AENEAS (A60) as 20 Dec 1915 and the disembarkation date of 17 Jan 1916, which I have verified on the ships' report made by the Military Commander MAJ I. Anderson and which is held by the AWM as AWM7 AENEAS 3.

Acting Signalman

1 Completed training, alloted to 2nd Battalion at ZETOUN EGYPT

14 Feb 1916

Private

2 Joined 2nd Battalion at TEL EL KEBIR

19 Feb 1916

On joining his unit a scribbled note appearing twice in his Service Record indicates he reverts to rank and pay of private, while one entry shows that he was A/SM and I have concluded that this is Acting Signalman rather than the extremely unlikely alternative of Sergeant Major.

Private

3 Embarked for France aboard "INVERNESS" from ALEXANDRIA

22 Mar 1916

Private

4 Disembarked at Marseilles

28 Mar 1916

Private

5 Wounded in Action (WIA)

22 Jul 1916

Service Record has the date as 22/24, however he appears to have been wounded on the night or early morning between the 22nd and the 23rd.
This correlates to the 1st Divison attacking shortly after midnight on the 22nd in what was its first major engagement, at Pozieres in the Somme valley.
The 2nd Battalion book relates that by 6am on the 24th the battalion hadthree officers wounded while  killed wounded and missing among the other ranks aggregated 210.

The Division suffered 5,285 casualties on the 22nd(which might explain the somewhat disjointed record-keeping) and was withdrawn to be replaced by the 2nd Division.

Private

6 SW L/Shoulder

23 Jul 1916

Transferred from 2nd Battalion to No 2 FA
Adm & trans to CCS

Private

7 GSW Shoulder

23 Jul 1916

1/5 SMD CCS Adm & trans to 112 AT

Private

8 SW L Shoulder

24 Jul 1916

No 8 GH ROUEN

No 8 GH

9 Trans to England

26 Jul 1916

ROUEN

Private

10 Invalided to ENGLAND HS LANFRANC ex HAVRE

26 Jul 1916

[From] 8 GH

Private

11 Trans to 3rd Gen Hosp WANDSWORTH

27 Jul 1916

Admitted GSW VIII I slight
No record of transfer to Convalescent Depot or the period of leave (generally one or two weeks, which would have followed.

Private

Draft summary of Cables re wounding of Private Armstrong N.L.
10 Aug 1916 N.O.K. Advised Wounded
30 Aug 1916 N.O.K. advised in Hospital.

abt 30 Aug 1916

Private

12 Tfd to 1st Trg Bn ENGLAND

31 Aug 1916

From No 1 Conv Dep Pelham Downs

Private

13 Proceeding o/seas to Reinforce[ments] 1st Div[ision]

23 Sep 1916

Further details obscured on Service Record

Private

14 Taken on strength of 1 Australian Division Brigade Depot at ETAPLES

24 Sep 1916

Private

15 Rejoined 2nd Battalion

5 Oct 1916

In the Field, BELGIUM

Lance Corporal

16 Appointed Lance Corporal vice Guest promoted

26 Oct 1916

Temporary or Acting promotions were made in place of Non-Commissioned officers (NCOs), Warrant Officers (WOs) and Officers (Offr) temporarily absent through wounds, training etc.
Permanent promotions were made in place of NCOs,WOs or Offr permanently removed through wounds resulting in return to Australia, death or promotion to a higher rank.

Lance Corporal

17 On command to Divisional School of Instruction, FRANCE

29 Dec 1916

Learning to be an NCO in preparation for further promotion

Lance Corporal

18 Rejoined Battalion, FRANCE

29 Jan 1917

Corporal

19 Promoted Corporal vice Upright, promoted

9 Apr 1917

Lance Sergeant

20 Promoted Lance Sergeant vice Pearson promoted

12 May 1916

Sergeant

21 Promoted Sergeant vice Murphy promoted

21 Jun 1917

Sergeant

22 On leave to Paris

4 Sep 1917

Sergeant

23 Rejoined Battalion from leave to Paris

9 Sep 1917

Sergeant

24 To UK on leave

5 Oct 1917

Sergeant

25 Rejoined Battalion from furlough

18 Oct 1917

Sergeant

26 To Hospital, sick

19 Oct 1917

Sergeant

27 Scabies

19 Oct 1917

3rd Aust Field Ambulance

Sergeant

28 Scabies

21 Oct 1917

No 50 Casualty Clearing Station

Sergeant

29 ICT Penis

To [No] 30 AT

"Great War Forum" explains that I.C.T was a general term for suppurating skin diseases (Pyodermia) caused mainly due to parasitic disease, but did not include scabies. It was extremely common among soldiers in the Great War due to the dirty living conditions. A commentator notes that the connective tissue in this context is the dermis, which would tie in with suppurating.

Sergeant

30 Admitted No 25 GH HARDILOT, PAS DE CALAIS

25 Oct 1917

Sergeant

31 Impetago, transferred to ENGLAND

4 Nov 1917

Sergeant

32 Embarked for ENGLAND

4 Nov 1917

HS JAN BREYDEL

Sergeant

33 Admitted, Impetigo SU

4 Nov 1917

GREYLINGWELL WAR HOSPITAL, CHICHESTER

Sergeant

34 Admitted from CHICHESTER WAR HOSPITAL

19 Nov 1917

3 AAH, DARTFORD

Sergeant

35 Discharged to Depot HURDCOTT, ENGLAND

23 Nov 1917

Sergeant

36 Marched in from 3rd AAH DARTFORD

23 Nov 1917

Sergeant

37 Assessed as Med Class B1B, No 3 COMMAND DEPOT, HURDCOTT

14 Dec 1917

Fit, but requires time to recover

Sergeant

38 Admitted MIL HOSP FOVANT

24 Nov 1917

Sergeant

39 Sick to FOVANT MIL HOSP (TONSILITIS)

27 Nov 1917

Sergeant

40 Admitted MIL HOSP FOVANT, TONSILITIS

28 Nov 1917

Sergeant

41 Discharged to TRG DEPOT

11 Dec 1917

Sergeant

42 Marched in to NO 3 COMMAND DEPOT, HURDICOTT

11 Dec 1917

Sergeant

43 Classified B1B

13 Dec 1917

Medical codes differ for UK troops and those of the Commonwealth, B followed by a number can be interpreted as "Not fit yet but with rest will be able to rejoin his unit".

Sergeant

44 Reclassified as B1B

14 Dec 1917

Sergeant

45 1Reclassified as A3

Jan 1918

Fit to rejoin unit with restrictions

Sergeant

46 Marched in to OVERSEAS TRAINING BRIGADE from No 3 COM DEPOT

27 Apr 1918

Sergeant

47 Marched out of OVERSEAS TRAINING BRIGADE to 3 COM DEPOT

27 APR 1918

Sergeant

48 Proceed overseas to FRANCE from O/SEAS TRG BDE, from FOLKSTONE

22 May 1918

Sergeant

49 Marched in from ENGLAND to AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE DEPOT, HAVRE ex Sick

24 May 1918

Sergeant

50 Proceeded to Unit from HAVRE

25 May 1918

In the Field

Sergeant

51 Rejoined Battalion from Sick

30 May 29218

CO 2nd Bn

Sergeant

52 To Australian Corps Guard, FRANCE

21 Aug 1918

This corresponds with the Hundred Days Offensive (8 Aug 1918 to 11 November 1918), a series of massive Allied offensives that ended the First World War. It began with the Battle of Amiens (8-12 Aug  1918) on the Western Front, where the Alllies pushed the Imperial German Army back, taking all of the gains from the German spring offensive.
See the sidebar to the Introduction for further information about the Australian Corps Guard.

Sergeant

53 Rejoined Battalion

15 Sep 1918

His return to his unit immediately precedes 18 Sep 1918 the date for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal as acting Platoon Commander in the 2nd Battalion.

Sergeant

Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal.

18 Sep 1918

He would not yet be aware that the recommendation had been made, and it is not an event noted in the chronological series within his Service Record. Further details are provided below.

T/CQMS

54 Vice Goss on Transport duty to Australia

12 Oct 1918

T/CQMS

55 On Command to Salvage Plant, HAVRE

29 Oct 1918

T/CQMS

56 Rejoined Battalion

3 Nov 1918

CQMS

57 Promoted CQMS vice Goss to Australia

16 Jan 1919

CQMS

CITATION for award of the DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL (DCM)

In the operations east of HESBECOURT on the 18th Sept [1918] Sgt ARMSTRONG showed great valour and brilliant leadership. During the advance his platoon commander was killed, he assumed command of the platoon, maintaining excellent direction throughout. With the help of his platoon he put out of action two enemy machine guns. On reaching the vicinity of HARGICOURT his platoon came under very heavy machine gun fire from enemy nests. He carried out an enveloping movement against the positions and with the aid of a tank captured same killing the crews and taking four machine guns. The prompt and effective action of this N.C.O. had marked effect on the whole of the Company and thus enabled it to gain its objective. On reaching the objective in spite of heavy shell and machine gun fire he reorganised his platoon and consolidated the position. Throughout the period he showed great coolness and contempt for danger and set a magnificent example.

12 Mar 1919
London
Gazette
19 Feb 1920

C'wealth of
Australia
Gazette
No 20
19 Feb 1920

Three unsigned copies of Army Form W3121 contain the citation for the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM, second only to the VC) to 4336 Sergeant Norman Leslie Armstrong of the 2nd Battalion Australian Imperial Force. The original would be signed by the Major General commanding the First Australian Division and been promulgated in the London Gazette.
Sir John Monash, the Australian Commanding General instituted a plan for these attacks which was unique in combining and integrating the efforts of every element - infantry, armour, artillery, engineers, signals, pioneers, medical,logistics etc and held combined briefings for commanders at several levels to ensure that each understood completely the role that they had to play, what resources they had, or could call on, objectives they had to achieve, the interlinked timetable.
Sgt Armstrong demonstrated all of this in his leadership, maintenance of direction and clever use of a tank to supplement his platoons fire-power in order to achieve the objective.

CQMS

Embarked for return to Australia aboard HT AENEAS (60)

21 May 1919

CQMS

Letter from Officer in Charge Base Record, Melbourne to Hilda E. Armstrong (NOK)
Advising the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to 4336 Sgt N.L. Armstrong for gallantry and distinguished service in the field.

17 Jul 1919

CQMS

Letter from 2nd MD Returned Soldiers Section To Officer in Charge, Base Records Incorporates response from OIC Base Records

29 Aug 1919



2 Sep 1919

Re No 43336 ARMSTRONG, A.L. 2nd Battn
I shall be glad if you will please advise if the above soldier is entitled to gratuity of £ 20-0-0 (Twenty Dollars)for D.C.M. decoration - vide
Acc. Ins. No 55 para No 4.
Lt COl
District Paymaster, 2nd M.D.

D.P..M. 2nd M.D.
According to the records held here the abovenamed is entitled to gratuity in connection with the award of the D.C.M.
Captain.
for Officer i/c Base Records.

Returned Serviceman

Letter from Officer in Charge, Base Records, Melbourne to Miss H. Armstrong, advising that 4336 Sgt N. L. Armstrong has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, for an act of gallantry as described in the Citation which is specified.

24 Feb 1920

Returned Serviceman

Letter to Officer in Charge, Base Records, on Armstrong Brothers headed paper, asking if it is possible to replace Returned from Active Service Badges which were stolen.

10 Oct 1930

An annotation in pencil "Circular 13/10/30" would have resulted in the receipt of advice as to how to replace the badges. This resulted in the following four items of correspondence.

Returned Serviceman

Covering letter for the Statutory Declaration which follows, enclosing Postage stamps to the value of 2/- [Two shillings or 20 cents] to replace two Returned Soldiers Badges stolen.

29 Oct 1930

Pencilled annotation on 3 Nov 1930 "Dup RS Badge fwdd 2 each".

Returned Serviceman

Statutory Declaration stating that his "Discharge Badge" (Returned from Active Service Badge) had been lost when his coat was stolen.

29 Oct 1930

Returned Serviceman

Receipt No 662359 signed by N.R. Armstrong acknowledging receipt of replacement Returned From Active Service Badge No 2393.

Signed and returned to OIC Base Records.

Returned Serviceman

Letter from Norman Armstrong to Officer in Charge, Base Records concerning eligibility for 1914/15 Star and stating that members of the 13th Reinforcements to the 3rd Battalion and posted to the 2nd Battalion had raised the issue with him and he is asking in order to be able to provide definite information to them.

Posted 31 May 1935 and stamped as received on 5 Aug 1925. It does appear to have been missing.

Returned Serviceman

Letter from Norman ARMSTRONG on Armstrong Bros letterhead to Officer in Charge, Base Records stating that he had not received a reply to a letter despatched by him on 27 Dec 1935 in re eligibility for 1914/15 Star. Letter received by OIC Records on 41 Jan 1936

29 Jan 1936

Returned Serviceman

Copy of a letter from Officer in Charge, Base records defining ineligibility for 1914/15 Star. The next 2 documents appear to have been raised in formulating this respons

14 Feb 1936

Returned Serviceman

Copy of form from AIF Base Records to Deputy Commissioner Repatriation Commission Canberra Re R.76304

21 Sep 1954

There are two copies of this document on file, the second has no entries and is unsigned.

Returned Serviceman

Document in pencil headed "2 Bn" and comprising a list of five HMAT ships by name, the dates on which they embarked for Egypt and the date the reinforcements disembarked to training in Egypt. A final sentence states "Although all served in the same camp in Egypt they did not all arrive there at the same time".

Undated

War Service commenced when the ship sailed and included any time overseas which was not in a war zone. Charge sheets were headed WOWS. This War Service when in host countries provides for harsher penalties for offences under the Defence Act rather than the then Army Act. It also makes the individuals in this case eligible for the Imperial award of the "British War Medal". Eligibility for applicable war medals (in this case the 1914/15 Star and the Victory Medal) did not begin until the individual arrived in a declared War Zone. This is defined as Active Service. Charge sheets are prefaced WOAS and the penalties were again those defined by the Defence Act, not the Army Act.
These definitions are not easily understood and continue to confuse and misdirect former soldiers to this day in respect of War Service betweeen 1969 and 1989 in Malaysia.

Medals and Dress Embellishments

Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-15 Star (Not entitled), British War Medal 1914-1920, Victory Medal.

Not entitled to wear ANZAC 'A'

One Wound Stripe for 23 Jul 1916.

Three Long Service Stripes and three  Overseas Service Chevrons.

Use the hyperlinks or scroll down to see further information on the badges.

Background - Infantry Battalions

[Based on information in Redcoats to Cams, Ian Kuring.]

In December 1914, battalions of about 1000 men were organised into eight companies each divided into half of 60 men and then into two sections of around 30 men. Command was highly centralised with companies commanded by a Captain, half-companies by Lieutentants and sections by a Sergeant.

In early 1915 Australia reduced the number of Companies to four, but doubled their size to more than 220 men. Each rifle company had a headquarters and four platoons. Each platoon had a headquarters and four rifle sections of 10 men commanded by corporals.

From early 1916 light machineguns replaced medium machine guns and were eventually issued to each rifle platoon.

During 1917 rifle platoons were reorganised to have a light machine gun section, a rifle grenade section, a hand grenade/bombing section and a rifle assault section.

By mid 1918, the number of officers had increased to 38 but the number of other ranks had declined to 900. At the same time, the firepower of the battalion was greatly augmented with hand and rifle grenades and Lewis Guns, of which there was 34 per battalion.

Rifle, Short Magazine Lee-Enfield .303in, Mark III
Rifle, Small Magazine Lee-Enfield .303in, Mark III with sword bayonet

2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Divison

[Information from https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au]
UNIT COLOUR PATCH
2ND INFANTRY BATTALION


NOT ENTITLED TO WEAR ANZAC A

The 2nd Battalion was raised in Aug 1914 as part of the 1st Brigade,1st Division Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

The 2nd Battalion was raised at Liverpool (SW of Sydney). Its men were drawn from northern NSW - "the Northern Rivers", including the Hunter Valley and the area north of it.

On 17 Aug all those that had volunteered and enlisted in the preceding days were called into Victoria Barracks where they were divided into four Battalions which were then marched to Randwick Racecourse where attestations were completed with the recruits signing on for the duration of the war and four months.

The Battalion arrived in Egypt in Dec 1914 and landed at Gallipoli on the first day, as part of the second and third waves. It served on the peninsula until the evacuation in December.

In Egypt in Mar 1916 the AIF was ‘doubled’: the 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions were added to the 1st and 2nd Divisions, which already existed. The sixteen battalions which had fought on Gallipoli were each split, with half the personnel in each going to form a ‘pup’ or 'daughter' battalion; the gaps were filled with new recruits from Australia. The 2nd Battalion's 'pup' unit was the 54th Battalion, but it is also clear that those who were in transit at the time of the withdrawal from Gallipoli were posted in to the units to which they were allocated.

In Mar 1916, the AIF began sailing for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918 the battalion was heavily involved in operations against the German Army.

The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme valley in Jul 1916, where the AIF Divisions engaged (1st 2nd and 4th) formed the right flank of the British front. The 1st Division was committed to the attack on Pozieres village from 23 Jul, involving the reduction of the ‘Gibraltar’ blockhouse among other tasks. The enemy shelling was relentless and casualties mounted at a horrifying rate. Once the ‘Windmill’ was captured by the 2nd Division on 4th August and consolidated by the 4th Division, the direction of the Australian assault switched to Mouquet Farm, with the 1st Division leading once again. The aim was to outflank Thiepval, the main impediment and key objective of the British advance. The AIF Divisions had fought themselves to a standstill over five weeks; 23,000 casualties of whom 5,000 were killed.

After Pozieres the battalion fought at Ypres in Flanders then returning to the Somme for winter.

1917 began with a German consolidation of their Front Line and an orderly withdrawal through what were called 'The Outpost Villages' through which they conducted a delaying defence. The AIF was tasked to follow this up and a series of engagements ensued, culminating in April with the first of two attacks on Bullecourt. First Bullecourt was an exclusively 4th Division attack which although successful in breaking in to the German line was not adequately supported and it subsequently failed. Second Bullecourt followed in May and involved the 1st 2nd and 5th Divisions. Tactically it was very similar to First Bullecourt with a break-in being achieved, the tanks failing - again - and inadequate artillery support because of difficulties getting the guns far enough forward. From a casualty perspective, it was Pozieres all over again.

The 1st Division was reconstituted and reinforced during the period May to end July, when all of the AIF (for the first time including the 3rd Division) was committed to the Third Ypres campaign. The 1st Division was committed to fighting at Menin Road in late Sep 1917 and at Broodseinde Ridge on 4 Oct. The Third Ypres campaign bogged down in misery of 1st and 2nd Passchendaele in late October and November.

The Battalion helped to repel the German Spring Offensive in Mar-Apr 1918 in Flanders. The AIF had been sent south to bolster the British 5th Army which was crumbling iN front of the German onslaught.

Then it was realised that an attack was to be made in Flanders as part of ‘Operation Georgette’, towards the rail head of Hazebrouk, so the 1st Division was rushed back to be told by British General Harrington CoS British 2nd Army, on arrival at Hazebrouk station, that they (the 1st Division) were the only formed body of troops between here and the Channel Ports (Calais and Bolougne).

They became a rallying point around which other troops consolidated. and the Operation Georgette attacks were blunted. As a result, the Battle Honours Lys Hazebrouck and Kemmel were awarded.

The troops of the 1st Division were later transferred south to the Somme once again to take its place in the Australian Corps consolidated under General Monash’s command, and to take part in the Great Allied offensive, the "Last Hundred Days" campaign beginning on 8 Aug 1918.

The 1st Division started the Amiens offensive in reserve but was later committed to the left flank along the Somme, taking part in actions around Chipilly and Chuignes across the Somme towards Bapaume securing the right flank of the British Army while it advanced on Bapaume. It also allowed the 3rd Australian Division to cross the Somme and secure the Australian Corps northern flank for the attack on Mont St Quentin.

The First Division finished its last phase of combat operations in the vicinity of Epehy on the approaches to the Hindenburg Line. After the 2nd Division attack on the Beaurevoir Line at Montbrehain on 5 Oct, the AIF was withdrawn from the line to reinforce and refit following the accumulated losses it had sustained since 8th August.

[Information based on https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au]

Battle Honours:

Albert 1918 (Chuignes), Amiens, Anzac, Broodeseinde, Bullecourt, Defence of Anzac, Egypt 1915-16, Epéhy, France and Flanders 1916-18, Gallipoli 1915, Hazebrouk, Hindenburg Line, Landing at Anzac, Lys, Menin Road,Passchendaele,Poelcappelle, Polygon Wood, Pozières, Sari Bair - Lone Pine, Somme 1916-18, Suvla,Ypres 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal

A medal for "meritorious service" was instituted in 1845. It was awarded on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief only to sergeants, while serving or after discharge, with or without a pension. The "Distinguished Conduct Medal", or "D.C.M." as it is usually called is exclusively for the non-commissioned officers and men of the Army and was sanctioned in 1845 to replace the old "Meritorious Service Medal" for gallantry in action.

The D.C.M. which is suspended from its ribbon by an ornamental scroll clasp, bears on one side the effigy of the reigning Sovereign, and on the other the embossed words "For Distinguished Conduct in the Field". The date of the action for which the medal is given is sometimes engraved upon it, while bars bearing the dates of any subsequent gallant actions may be awarded. Non-commissioned officers and men who have been given this medal either receive a gratuity of £20 [$A40] on discharge from the Army or an increase of pension of 6d [5 cents] per day. Bars are awarded for further services, as is the case for the D.S.O., and the same regulations are in force as to the wearing of the silver rose on the ribbon in undress uniform. Recipients are allowed to use the letters "D.C.M." after their name.

The medal is worn on the left breast immediately before war medals in accordance with the "Order of Wear" and the 1¼ inch ribbon is crimson, with a central blue stripe of ⅜.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal is a level 2 award, positioned after the Victoria Cross and above the Military Medal.

Obverse

  1. The original medal was struck with the English trophy of arms and shield.
  2. King George V type one (bare headed facing left) was issued for all WW1 awards.
  3. King George V type two (crowned, facing left) was struck in 1930 although no awards were made between 1925 and 1935, there was carryover into later awards and into the short reign of Edward V III for whom no images were struck.
  4. King George VI type one (crowned facing left) were struck in 1939 and used for several years after the went of WW2. 
  5. King George VI type two (crowned facing left but style and title on the rim altered) from 1948 but used until at least 1952, after the accession of Elizabeth II.
  6. Queen Elizabeth II type one (crowned, facing right), this image dates from about 1953.
  7. Queen Elizabeth II type two (crowned, facing right), had the style altered to DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.

As a level 2 award, the Distinguished Conduct Medal was superceded by the Star of Gallantry in the Australian Honours system for all ranks with the postnominal of "SG", after the Imperial Honours System was closed to Australian Service Personnel.

The Star of Gallantry is a gold-plated silver Federation Star ensigned with the crown of Saint Edward. The obverse is a smaller Federation Star which is surrounded by stylised flames. This image represent action under fire.

The reverse shows a horizontal panel superimposed on a stepped background.

The medal is suspended from a 32mm ribon by a narrow bar which is engraved with the words "For Gallantry". The ribbon has a design of chevrons of light orange alternating with chevrons of deep orange angled at 60 degrees.

The highest award for gallantry in the field under the Australian system is the Victoria Cross for Australia (VC), followed, in order, by the Star of Gallantry (SG), the Medal for Gallantry (MG) and the Commendation for Gallantry.

[Extracts from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940 & British Gallantry Awards, P.E. Abbott and J.M.A. Tamplin, Guiness Superlatives, Middlesex, 1971]

1914-15 Star

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
1914-15 Star

The decoration consists of a four-pointed star in bright bronze as shown, with the date 1914-15 on the central scroll. The reverse is plain, and is stamped with the name and unit of the recipient. The ribbon is red, white and blue, shaded and watered, worn with the red nearest the centre of the breast. It is atached to the medal through a ring.

It is similar in shape and description to the 1914 Star, to which few, if any, Australians were entitled. Those entitled were those who had already served with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) in the operations to capture German New Guinea in 1914.

The decoration, sanctioned in 1918, was issued "to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the British, Dominion, Colonial and Indian Forces, including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others eployed with military hospitals, who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war as defined in Appendix 'A'. Individuals in possession of the 1914 Star will not be eligible for the award of this decoration."

Appendix 'A' included the Western, Eastern, Egyptian, African, Asiatic and Australasian Theatres of war, with commencement dates individual to countries and campaigns.

British War Medal 1914-20

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
British War Medal

This medal was approved by King George V in 1919 to record the bringing of the war to a successful conclusion and the arduous services rendered by His Majesty's Forces.

The medal, which is supended from its ribbon by means of a straight clasp, without swivel, bears on the obverse the effigy of His Majesty - exactly similar to that on a half-crown - with the legend 'Georgivus V : Omn : Rex et Ind : Imp'.

The reverse bears a design which represents St George on horseback, trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the central powers and a skull and crossbones, the emblems of death. Overhead is the risen sun of victory. The male figure, rather than a symbolical female one, was chosen because man had borne the brunt of the fighting. The figure was mounted on horseback as symbolical of man's mind controlling force (represented by the horse) of far greater strength than his own. The design is thus also symbolical of the mechanical and scientific appliances which helped so largely to win the war.

The ribbon has a orange watered centre with stripes of white and black at each side and with borders of royal blue. It is stated that the colours have no particular signification.

Victory Medal

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]

This medal, of bronze, bears on the obverse a winged figure of Victory, full length in the middle of the medal and full face; the borders and the backgound plain, without either incription or date. On the reverse is an inscription. "The Great War for Civilization." and either the names of the different Allied and Associated Powers, or their coats of arms.

The rim is plain, and the medal hangs from a ring. The ribbon is red in the centre, with green and violet on either side shaded to form the colours of two rainbows.

It has also been approved that any officer or man who has been "mentioned in despatches" shall wear a small bronze oak leaf on the ribbon of this medal. Only one oak leaf is so worn, no matter how many "mentions" the wearer may have received.

The medal is designed to obviate the exchange of Allied Commemorative war medals, and is issued only to those who actually served on the establishment of a unit or ship in a theatre of war. [This is an important distinction, as those Australians who served only in Australia, or only in Australia and England, were not entitled to the award.]

The Rising Sun Badge

This version of the Rising Sun Badge was worn by soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Australian Imperial Forces, and the badge has become an integral part of the Digger tradition.

Worn on the the upturned brim of the slouch hat, it is readily identified with the spirit of ANZAC.

There are a number of versions of the genesis of the badge, the most widely accepted being that it derived from a Trophy of Arms - various swords and bayonets mounted on  a semi-circular display in Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

The original version worn in South Africa was modified in 1904 and worn by Australian soldiers through two World Wars.

Later changes were made to the style of the crown and the wording on the scroll. The "King's Crown" is the one shown to the left, while arches of the "Queen's Crown" rise at the same angle as the base of the crown, curve at their highest point to a level mid-way on the orb below the cross and then down to below the orb.

In 1949 the scroll was changed to read "Australian Military Forces".

In 1969 the badge was modified to incorporate the 7-pointed Federation Star with a central Queen's crown over the Torse Wreath (a twisted roll of fabric) from the original 1902 version, and the scroll wording changed to "Australia".

In the 75th anniversary year of the the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, there was a drive to return to traditional accoutrements worn by Australian soldiers during the World Wars, which clearly identify the Australian Army. The Queen's crown returned to its central position and the scroll now reads "The Australian Army'.

Wound Stripe

Army Order No.204 Headquarters, 1st A.N.Z.A.C., 9th August, 1916. (slightly amended for layout)
DISTINCTIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED

Wound Stripes

The following distinction in dress will be worn on the service dress jacket by all officers and soldiers who have been wounded in any of the campaigns since 4th August 1914 :

    Stripes of gold Russia braid No.1, two inches [2.5cm] in length sewn perpendicularly on the left forearm sleeve of the jacket to mark each occasion on which wounded.

    In the case of officers, the lower end of the first strip of gold braid will be immediately above the upper point of the flap on the cuff.

    Warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men will wear the gold braid on the left forearm sleeve, the lower edge of the braid to be three inches from the bottom of the sleeve.

    Subsequent occasions on which wounded, will be placed on either side of the original one at half inch interval.

    Gold braid and sews will be obtained free on indent from the Army Ordnance Department; the sewing on will be carried out regimentally without expense to the public.

Overseas Service Chevrons

[http://au.geocities.com/fortysecondbattalion/level2/reference/01nos-standards.htm]
[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]

Overseas Service Chevrons

Australian Imperial Force Order No.1053, January 1918 (Slightly amended for layout)

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of chevrons to denote service overseas since the 4th August 1914.

    Chevrons of two colours have been approved.

      The first chevron if earned on or before 31st December 1914, will be red.

      If earned on or after 1st January 1915, it will be blue.

      All additional chevrons after the first will be blue.

    The chevrons will be worsted embroidery, 1/4 inch [0.63cm] in width, the arms 4 inches [10.2cm] long. They will be worn inverted on the right forearm:

    In the case of officers, the apex of the lowest chevron will be 1 inch [2.5cm] above the upper point of the flap on the cuff.

    In the case of warrant-officers, non-commissioned officers and men, the apex of the lowest chevron will be midway between the seams and four inches [10.2cm] above the bottom edge of the sleeve.

    The red chevron will be worn below the blue one. They will not be worn on greatcoats.

    In the case of Australians, the first chevron was earned the date the individual left Australia. Additional chevrons were awarded for each successive aggregate period of 12 months service outside Australia.

Long Service Badges

[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]
Long Service Badges
A.I.F. ORDER No.470, 24 January 1917 (slightly amended for layout)

The question of the issue of a badge to members of the AIF who have completed a certain period of service has received consideration, and approval has been given for the issue of a badge for long service combined with good conduct, subject to the following conditions.

    The badge will consist of an inverted single chevron of service braid to be worn on the left forearm - the point of the chevron to be 3 inches [7.6cm] above the edge of the cuff.

    Warrant and non-commissioned officers and men, will be eligible for the badge, which will not carry an increased pay or allowance.

    One chevron will be worn for each complete year's service in the Australian Imperial Force from the date of embarkation in Australia.

    No badge will be issued to any man who, during the 12 months, has incurred a regimental entry (i.e. an entry involving forfeiture of pay) in his sheet.

    Time absent from the unit in hospital or elsewhere on account of wounds or sickness, not the result of misconduct, will count as service towards earning the badge.

    A man in possession of a badge will forfeit same on being convicted of any offence involving a forfeiture of pay , but will be eligible to regain the badge after 6 months good conduct, from the date of forfeiture.

    The illegal wearing of this badge will be a crime under A.A. Section 40.

Some Government Issued Badges

Nearest Female
Relative Badge

War Widows
Guild Brooch

Silver War Badge
 

Discharged Returned
Soldier Badge

Government issued badge in enamel
and sterling silver issued to the wife,
mother or nearest female relative of
a serving soldier. Additional bars
were suspended below for further
individuals.

Membership badge of a Kookaburra
in sterling silver, issued by the
Government to the widows of men
who lost their lives due to their
service. Numbered on the reverse.

Awarded to service personnel who
sustained a wound, or contracted
sickness of disability in the course
of the war as a result of which
they were invalided out, or to
soldiers who had retired during
the course of the war.

First issued in 1916. Slight variations are indicative of a number of makers. 267,300 were issued. Numbered on the reverse but the numbers have no link with length of service or Service Number.

[Badge information collated from Australian War Memorial, "Australians Awarded" by Clive Johnson and en.wikipedia.com]