1627 Corporal Cyril Garnet Currier [WIA***]
40th Infantry Battalion,
10th Brigade,
3rd Division
1 st Australian Imperial Force 1914-1919
This file last updated 30 August, 2023 13:36
Introduction
Photograph here, if available
The following information and chronological table are a summary of the entries from the service record of 1627 Corporal Cyril Garnet Currier.
He is the eldest of the three Currier brothers who enlisted in World War 1, the others being Edward Clifford Currier who served in the 52nd Battalion and Ernest George Currier who served with him in the 40th Battalion.
These three sons of John Wallace and Catherine (Kate) Currier are on file in 1908 as destitute and neglected children after the death of John. This hardship may have been a prime motivator in their later enlistment. There were eight siblings in all.
Both Cyril and Ernest served in the 40th Battalion, Cyril as an original member when the unit was created, Ernest as a much later reinforcement.
Cyril was recommended for the Military Medal by his Commanding Officer for his action on 29 Mar 1918 in revealing the position of an enemy sniper. Severely wounded, he was able to crawl back across open ground and give the exact location of the sniper who was 'dislodged' with a Lewis machinegun. Unfortunately the award was not approved at a higher level - there were four levels of approval.
The AWM gives his rank at discharge as Lance Corporal, however an enquiry made after his discharge requested clarification. The response showed that he was promoted to Corporal on 13 Nov 1918 and held that rank at the date of discharge. Short term, temporary promotions to Lance Corporal, Corporal and even Sergeant were made to fill temporary gaps when those holding the senior rank were wounded or absent. The men so promoted would usually go on to gain substantive rank. Cyril's record shows this admirably.
Prepared for Vietnam veteran, Robert Clifford 'Bomber' Gibson, grandnephew of Cyril Garnet Currier, by Clive Mitchell-Taylor - 7 Oct 2018.
Cyril Currier's documents are:
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviations or acronyms which have a dotted underline can be expanded by moving the cursor over the term - e.g. WIA. The cursor will be replaced by ? and the expanded abbreviation will be displayed. This is gradually being incorporated into the site, replacing the the current expansion of abbreviations. There may be a discernable delay of about a second before the expansion is first provided.
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.
Enlistment Details
Service Number |
1627 |
Name |
Cyril Garnet Currier |
Born at |
Hobart, Tasmania |
Age |
19 years and 10 months (as at 13 Mar 1916 - birth dates are not actually recorded. His actual birthday is 8 May 1896.) |
Trade or Calling |
Carpenter |
Apprentice |
No |
British Subject |
Natural born |
Marital Status |
Unmarried |
Next of Kin |
Mother Kate Currier with several addresses written in and then struck out. The last address was Enderselie, Tasmania. |
Previous Military Service |
No. Evaded. [This most likely refers to the compulsory cadet service of the time.] |
Discharged with Ignominy |
No |
Attested at |
Claremont, Tasmania |
Date of Enlistment |
13 Mar 1916 |
Height |
5 foot 9½ inches [176.5cm] |
Weight |
9 stone 10 pounds [132 pounds or 60Kg] |
Chest |
32½ - 35 inches [82.5cm - 89cm] |
Complexion |
Fair |
Eyes |
Blue |
Hair |
Light Bfrown |
Religious Denomination |
Church of England |
Distinctive Marks |
Not on record |
Units |
40th Infantry Battalion |
Chronological Events
Rank |
Description |
Date |
Remarks |
Private |
Enlisted |
13 Mar 1916 |
|
Private |
OFFENCE: Overstaying Final Leave from 11am 20 May 1916 to 11pm 20 May 1916. AWARD: Forfeit 1 day's pay, 2 days confined to Barracks (CB). |
|
|
Private |
Embarked on HMAT "BERRIMA" (A35) from Australia for Active Service abroad. The preceding period would have encompassed basic training |
1 Jul 1916 |
There is an embarkation record dated 1 April 1916. This may represent sailing from Hobart to Sydney. |
Private |
Disembarked at Devonport |
22 Aug 1916 |
|
Private |
Taken on Strength of 40th Battalion, England |
23 Sep 1916 |
|
Private |
Proceeded overseas to France |
23 Nov 1916 |
|
Private |
To hospital, sick, scabies. Transferred to 4 Base Hospital |
4 Apr 1917 |
France |
Private |
Rejoined unit from hospital |
12 Apr 1917 |
|
Private |
Wounded in Action, admitted to 9th AFA, GSWto left thigh and knee |
31 May 1917 |
|
Private |
Transferred to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Boulogne. |
2 Jun 1917 |
|
Private |
Transferred from 2nd Australian General Hospital (1 AGH) to England |
4 Jun 1917 |
|
Private |
Admitted to 3rd Southern General Hospital |
5 Jun 1917 |
|
Private |
Base Records Melbourne advises Kate Currier by telegram that Cyril Currier has been wounded and that they will advise anything further received. |
11 Jun 1917 |
|
Private |
Base Records, Melbourne advises Kate Currier that Private C.G. Currier has been admitted to 3rd Southern General Hospital, Oxford, England on 5 Jun 1917 suffering from a gunshot wound left thigh and knee, mild[sic]. |
15 Jun 1917 |
|
Private |
Transferred to 3rd Australian Army Hospital |
25 Jun 1917 |
|
Private |
Transferred to Weymouth |
6 Jul 1917 |
|
Private |
Classified B1a2, |
12 Aug 1917 |
|
Private |
Classified B1A3 |
20 Aug 1917 |
|
Private |
Classified B1 a4 |
27 Aug 1917 |
|
Private |
Classified A3. |
18 Sep 1918 |
|
Private |
Transferred into Overseas Training Battalion, Perham Downes |
21 Sep 1917 |
|
Rank |
Description |
Date |
Remarks |
Private |
Proceeded overseas to France |
20 Oct 1917 |
|
Private |
Transferred to 3rd Australian Division Base Depot, Rouelles |
21 Oct 1917 |
|
Private |
Rejoined unit |
27 Oct 1917 |
|
Temporary Corporal |
Promoted to Corporal vice Coporal Lovitt promoted |
20 Nov 1917 |
|
Private |
Reverted to Private from Temporary Corporal (in excess of establishment). |
1 Feb 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Promoted Lance Corporal |
1 Feb 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Wounded in Action (2nd occasion), gunshot wound to abdomen (severe) |
28 Mar 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Admitted to 11th AFA |
30 Mar 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Transferred to England, ex France |
6 Apr 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Admitted to Bath War Hospital |
6 Apr 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Commanding Officer recommends Cyril Garnett Currier for the Military Medal, with the following citation: On the 29th March 1918, West of MORLANCOURT, this man showed bravery and initiative. A sniper had caused several casualties in our front line and this man volunteered to attempt to dislodge the sniper. He crawled across the open but was severely wounded. He managed to make his way back and gave the exact location of the sniper, who was at once dislodged by a Lewis Gun. The recommendation was overruled at higher headquarters, and while there is a record of the nomination in the Australian War Memorial (see above) there is no mention of the nomination in Cyril Garnet Currier's military record. |
7 April 1918 |
I would like to think that he knew about it later, but this may not be the case. It does, however show the esteem in which he was held within the unit. |
Lance Corporal |
Base Records Melbourne advises Kate Currier that Private C.G. Currier has been Wounded in Action (second occasion) and provides a forwarding address for mail. |
12 Apr 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Base Records Melbourne advises that Private C.G. Currier has been admitted to Bath War Hospital with a severe gunshot wound to the abdomen and provides a forwarding address for mail. |
|
|
Lance Corporal |
In an undated letter, Kate Currier asks for any information concerning her son 1627 Private Cyril Garnett [sic] Currier of B Company, 40th Battalion, and advises her change of address. |
Rec'd |
|
Lance Corporal |
Base Records, Melbourne, advises Kate Currier that Private C.G. Currier is progressing favourably. |
4 May 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Transferred to 3rd Australian Army Hospiital |
17 May 1918 |
|
Rank |
Description |
Date |
Remarks |
Private |
Taken on Strength - 69th Battalion, England |
23 Mar 1917 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Discharge to No 3 Convalescent Depot, Hurdcott. |
24 May 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Marched in to No 4 Convalescent Depot, Hurdcott. |
1 Jun 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Base Records, Melbourne, advises Kate Currier that Temporary Corporal Currier is convalescent, and gives his address for mail. |
5 Jun 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Marched in to Overseas training Brigade, L. Deverill |
4 Jul 1917 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Proceeded overseas to France ex England to rejoin unit |
24 Jul 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Marched in to Australian Infantry Base Depot (AIBD), Rouelles |
26 Jul 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Rejoined unit |
31 Jul 1918 |
|
Temporary Corporal |
Promoted Temporary Corporal vice Cpl Jeffries, evacuated 3 Aug 1918 |
15 Aug 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Reverts to substantive rank on Cpl Jeffries rejoining the unit |
31 Aug 1918 |
|
Temporary Corporal |
Promoted Temporary Corporal vice Lance Sergeant Shalless evacuated wounded |
30 Aug 1918 |
|
Temporary Corporal |
Wounded in Action (third occasion) |
1 Sep 1918 |
|
Temporary Corporal |
Admitted to 37th Casualty Clearing station (37 CCS), contusions, back |
1 Sep 1918 |
|
Temporary Corporal |
Discharged to Base Depot |
3 Sep 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Rejoined unit |
12 Sep 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Base Records Melbourne advises Kate Currier that he was discharged from hospital on 2 Sep 1918 |
19 Sep 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
To 10th Brigade School |
20 Oct 1918 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Rejoined Unit, ex school |
26 Oct 1918 |
|
Corporal |
Promoted Substantive Corporal |
3 Dec 1918 |
|
Rank |
Description |
Date |
Remarks |
Corporal |
Detached to 10th Field Company, Engineers (10 FCE.) |
13 Dec 1918 |
|
Corporal |
Rejoined unit from detachment |
12 Mar 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Proceeded to Australian C(?) Workshops |
18 Mar 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Marched out for return to Australia |
13 May 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Marched into No 3 Group, Coford, ex France. |
14 May 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Returned to Australia per HMAT "MAIN". |
23 Jul 1919 |
|
Corporal |
To ships hospital |
14 Aug 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Discharged from Ship's hospital |
18 Aug 1918 |
|
Corporal |
Discharged |
28 Dec 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Memorandum from Deputy Commissioner J.E. BARRETT to Officer in Charge, Base Records |
29 Oct 1928 |
|
Corporal |
Rsponse to the query above. |
29 Oct 1928 |
Hopefully they owed him a lot of backpay - he earned it. |
Medals and Dress Embellishments
British War Medal 1914-1920 and Victory Medal, not entitled to 1914-15 Star as he enlisted after 1915.
Not entitled to wear ANZAC 'A'.
Three Wound Stripes for 31 May 1917, 28 Mar 1918 and 1 Sep 1918.
Three Long Service Stripe, four 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, Small Magazine Lee-Enfield .303in, Mark III with sword bayonet
40th Battalion, 10th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division
[Information from Australian War Memorial and https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au]
40TH INFANTRY BATTAION
NOT ENTITLED TO WEAR ANZAC 'A'
The 3rd Division was raised in Australia early in 1916. The 40th Battalion was Tasmania's contribution to the strength of the division and it joined the Victorian-raised 37th, 38th and 39th Battalions to form the 10th Brigade.
The battalion embarked for the Western Front in July 1916 and by December was serving in the trenches in France. The 40th Battalion spent 1917 bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders. In June the battalion took part in the battle of Messines and in October the battle for Broodseinde Ridge. It was during this battle that Sergeant Lewis McGee of B Company performed the act of valour that earned him the Victoria Cross. McGee was killed in action eight days later, one of the 248 members of the battalion killed, wounded or gassed in the battle of Passchendaele.
The battalion spent much of 1918 fighting in the Somme valley. In March they met the German Spring Offensive at Morlancourt. In August and September the battalion helped to drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line. It was near Proyart in August that Sergeant Percy Statton of the 40th earned his Victoria Cross.
At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns fell silent on the Western Front. The November Armistice was followed by the Peace Treaty of Versailles signed on 28 June 1919.
Between February and September 1919 the men of the 40th Battalion returned to Australia for demobilisation and discharge.
Battle Honours
Albert 1918, Amiens, Ancre 1918. Broodseinde, France and Flanders 1916-18, Hindenberg Line, Messines 1917 Mont St Quentin, Passchendaele, Poelcappelle, Polygon Wood, Somme 1918, St Quention Canal, Ypres, 1917
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]

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]

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'.
The ANZAC 'A'
The brass letter 'A' to represent service related to Gallipoli (ANZAC) was authorised to be worn 'over unit colour patches on both sleeves of the service dress jacket and greatcoat" by Military Order 354 of 18 Aug 17 and AIF Order 937 of 6 Nov 17, as amended in terms of qualification by Military Order 20 of 19 Jan 18 and by AIF Order 1084 of 25 Jan 18.
The size of the letter 'A', introduced as one inch in height (AIF Order 994 of 30 Nov 17), was reduced to three-quarters of an inch by AIF Order 1012 of 11 Dec 17. Provision for wearing the brass letter 'A' was also included in General Routine Order 0.815 of 17 Dec 43 and GRO 310 of 7 Dec 45.
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
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.
Long Service Badges
[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]
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.
Overseas Service Chevrons
[http://au.geocities.com/fortysecondbattalion/level2/reference/01nos-standards.htm]
[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]
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.
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.