Sister Alice Ross-King ARRC, MM, (MID)
[AKA Alys Ross King]
Australian Army Nursing Staff
1st Australian Imperial Force
VF500148 Major
Alice Ross Appleford, ARRC, MM
Voluntary Aid Detachment
Australian Army Medical Womens' Service
World War 2
This file last updated
2 September, 2023 2:24
Introduction
Sister Alice Ross-King ARRC, MM
The following general description was extracted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Ross-King
on 1 Mar 2022.
Alys Ross King ARRC MM (5 August 1887 - 17 August 1968), known as Alice Ross-King (later Alice
Appleford) was an Australian civilian and military nurse who volunteered to serve in both World Wars. She
has been described as Australia's most decorated woman. During the First World War she served in
hospitals in Egypt and France and was one of only seven Australian nurses decorated with the
Military Medal for gallantry. In the Second World War she held a senior post within the
Australian Army Medical Women's Service. In 1949 she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal,
the highest award made by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Shortly after the outbreak of the war Ross-King enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service
(AANS) and it was at this time that she changed her surname from Ross King to the hyphenated
Ross-King to distinguish her from another AANS nurse called Alice King as well as simplify the
spelling of her forename to the more common spelling of Alice.
Major Alice Ross Appleford RRC, MM
Australian War Memorial Photograph
Public Domain
In November 1914 Sister Ross-King was posted overseas to serve with 1st Australian General
Hospital (1st AGH) in Egypt. 1st AGH was based at Heliopolis near Cairo and after service there,
Ross-King was posted to an outstation at Suez established as a clearing station for casualties
from the Gallipoli Campaign. Towards the end of 1915 Ross-King returned to Australia as a nurse
to wounded troops returning home.
Returning to 1st AGH Sister Ross-King and was part of the unit when 1st AGH moved to France in
April 1916. 1st AGH was settled at Rouen and Ross-King nursed there throughout 1916 including the
Somme Campaign and into 1917. In June 1917 she was posted to 10th Stationary Hospital at St Omer
but after only a few weeks she was posted again, this time to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station (2nd
CCS) near Trois Arbres. Arriving at 2nd CCS on 17 July, Ross-King had only been at the hospital
for five days when it was bombed on the night of 22 July 1917. Four men were killed in the
bombing and 15 others injured. Ross-King who was just finishing a shift returned to the wards and
continued to care for the patients in the ward despite the fact that the canvas tents had collapsed
on top of her and the casualties.
Her actions during the raid and the immediate aftermath resulted in Ross-King being awarded the
Military Medal (MM), one of only seven AANS nurses to receive the MM during the war. Of the other
six Military Medal awards, three were awarded to her colleagues at 2nd CCS for conduct during the
same raid; these were Sisters Dorothy Cawood and Clare Deacon, and Staff Nurse Mary Derrer. All
four awards were published in the London Gazette on 25 September 1917 and presentation of the
medals was made by General William Birdwood, General Officer Commanding I ANZAC Corps.
Diploma of the Florence Nightingale Medal
Australian War Memorial Photograph
Ross-King returned to 1st AGH in November 1917 and remained with the hospital until the end of the
war. In May 1918 Ross-King was made an Associate of the Royal Red Cross and had also been
mentioned in despatches (MID). 1st AGH moved to England in January 1919 and embarked to return to
Australia the same month. Ross-King was discharged from the AANS in September 1919.
During the war Ross-King met and became engaged to Harry Moffitt, an officer in the 53rd battalion
AIF, but he was killed during the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916. During the voyage to Australia
in 1919 Ross-King met Dr Sydney Theodore Appleford and they married in August 1919, settling in
Lang Lang, Victoria where they raised their four children.
Between the wars Alice Ross King has become involved in the training of Voluntary Aid Detachment
(VAD) personnel in Victoria. With the outbreak of the Second World War Ross-King enlisted into the
VAD and when, in 1942, the Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) was formed Ross King
was commissioned with the rank of major and appointed senior assistant controller for Victoria
responsible for all AAMWS in the state of Victoria.
Ross King continued to serve in the AAMWS until 1951. During her service Ross-King was nominated
for the Florence Nightingale Medal and was one of two Australian nurses to receive the medal in
1949. The citation for the medal concluded:
No one who came into contact with Major Appleford could fail to recognize her as a leader
of women. Her sense of duty, her sterling solidarity of character, her humanity, sincerity, and
kindliness of heart set for others a very high example.
Alice's husband, Sydney Theodore Appleford enlisted as a Medical Officer in 1916 as a medical officer
and again in 1941. I believe that VF151551 Alice Marion Appleford DOB 17 Aug 1924 POB RICHMOND VIC,
NOK APPLEFORD SYDNEY is the child of Sydney and Alice Appleford, but am unable to verify it due to
privacy restrictions on the release of Births, Deaths and Marriages data, and the fact that neither of
these two WW2 records has yet been digitised.
A portion of Alice Appleford's WW2 record was sealed and was not to be opened until 1992. It has not
yet been digitised.
See Alice Ross-Kings World War 1 Service Record and her WW2
record in her married name of Alice Ross Appleford as a
Major.
This record prepared by Clive Mitchell-Taylor in Feb/Mar 2022 in preparation for the ANZAC Day 2022
Service where Alice Ross-King is to be the Seachange Arundel Village 'Honoured ANZAC'. The WW2
record is extremely sparse - that part of the record which was not to be opened before 1992 has
not yet been digitised.
[The following typewritten duplicate of her enlistment application is
Certified as a True Copy by a Lieutenant in charge of Records, the
original still in the file having been mutilated by being torn in half]
Signature of Candidate . . . ALICE ROSS KING Witness . . . N. HARRIS. J.P.
I, ALICE ROSS KING do solemnly and sincerely declare that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief the above answers to the forgoing questions, made and
signed by me, are true; and that I am will to be enrolled in the Australian
Army Nursing Service, in accordance with the regulations laid down.
Signature of Candidate . . . ALICE ROSS KING Signature of Witness . . . N. HARRIS J.P Melbourne
(Date) 5th November 1914
The following Certificates in original must accompany the Declaration Form when signed:
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Date
Reported
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Received
From
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Chronological Events
Medical Other Disciplinary
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Date
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Remarks
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5 Nov 1914
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Enlisted
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MELBOURNE, VIC
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Nov 1915
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Embarked for EGYPT with 1st Division,
On arrival appointed to 1st Australian General Hospital, HELIOPOLIS
Later transferred to casualty Clearing Station near SUEZ, processing
caualties from GALLIPOLI.
|
|
|
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13 Jan 1915
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1 A.G.H.
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Typewritten document notes date of joining A.N.S. as 13 Jan 1915
Handwritten note adds experience as
"Ward sister at Alfred Hospital 15 months
Night Superintendant Austin Hospital 22 months
Acting Matron Austin Hospital 1 month
Charge of Dr O'Hara's Private Hospital 8 months"
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[No entry]
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[No entry]
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[Undated]
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[No entry]
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Typewritten slip notes Next of Kin as Mother
Mrs. C.H. King c/o Miss Hood, Ormond College, PARKEVILLE
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[No entry]
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[No entry]
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5 Jul 1915
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[No entry]
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Returns to Australia with Gallipoli casualties as Nursing Staff on
Hospital Transport BALLARAT. Date of return to EGYPT not recorded.
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[No entry]
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[No entry]
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6 Apr 1916
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OC Salia
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Embarked ALEXANDRIA to join BEF
Disembarked 6 Apr 1916, MARSEILLES.
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6 Apr 1916
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FRANCE
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22 Apr 1916
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OC 1st Sty Hosp
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Reporting to No 1 A.G.H. for duty
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20 Apr 1916
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FRANCE
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24 Apr 1916
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No 1 A.G.H.
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Reported for duty ex 1st Stat Hosp.
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20 Apr 1916
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ROUEN
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[15 Jan 1917]
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1 AGH
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Matron in Chief 1 Jan 1917
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Egypt
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24 Feb 1917
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OC 1st A.G.H.
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Proceeded on Leave
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18 Feb 1917
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ROUEN
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17 Mar 1917
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OC 1st A.G.H.
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Rejoined from Leave
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12 Mar 1917
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ROUEN
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19 Jun 1917
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OC 1st A.G.H.
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Detached to No 10 Staty Hospital
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7 Jun 1917
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ROUEN
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17 Jul 1917
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2nd ACCS
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Attached for duty No 10 Staty Hosp 1 A.G.H.
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17 Jul 1917
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FRANCE
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28 Sep 1917
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[Illegible] List 240
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Awarded Military Medal for bravery in the Field.
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7 Nov 1917
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Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's Despatches of 7 Nov 1917
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France
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18 Nov 1917
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2nd ACCS
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Proceeded to 1st A.G.H.
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18 Nov 1917
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France
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24 Nov 1917
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OC 1 A.G.H.
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Reported for Duty
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18 Nov 1917
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FRANCE
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1 Jan 1918
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A.I.F. List 379
Supp 30,488
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Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's Despatches of 7 Nov 1917 for Distinguished
and Galland Service in the Field between the periods 26 Feb 1917 M/N to M/N
26 Sep 1917
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FRANCE
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9 Feb 1918
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1st A.G.H.
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On leave to PARIS
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7 Feb 1918
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ROUEN
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16 Feb 1918
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1st A.G.H.
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Rejd unit from leave
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11 Feb 1918
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ROUEN
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13 Sep 1918
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1/AGH
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Sister
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14 Sep 1918
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Marseilles
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14 Sep 1918
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1/AGH
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T/H/Sister
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Marseilles
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5 Feb 1918
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Major Officer i/c Base Records
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Cable to mother, Mrs C .H. King re Award of the Military Medal, as follows:
Dear Madam,
I have much pleasure in forwarding hereunder
copy of extract from Ninth Supplement No. 30312 to the London Gazette, dated
25th September, 1917, relating to conspicuous services rendered by your daughter
Sister A. Ross-King, 1st Australian General Hospital.
------ AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL-----
----------------
" HIS MAJESTY THE KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal
for bravery in the field to the under-mentioned
Lady :-
Nursing Sister ALICE ROSS-KING ."
The above has been promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia
Gazette, No. 9 of 24th of January 1918.
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25 Sep 1917
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MELBOURNE
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4 Jun 1918
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AIF List 340
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Awarded the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class
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4 Jun 1918
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FRANCE
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29 Jun 1918
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1 AGH
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To sick leave Etretat
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27 Jun 1918
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ROUEN
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27 Jun 1918
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1 USA Pres Gen Hosp
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Debility - Admitted Sisters Conv Home
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27 Jun 1918
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Etretat
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7 Jul 1918
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1 USA Pres Gen Hosp
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Debility - Discharged to Duty
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7 Jul 1918
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Etretat
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13 Jul 1918
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1 A.G.H.
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Rej'd X Sick Leave Etretat
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7 Jul 1918
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ROUEN
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13 Sep 1918
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AIF List 382
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Sister to be Temp Head Sister (at No1 AGH)
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14 Sep 1918
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France
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28 Sep 1918
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1 AGH
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To UK on Leave
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28 Sep 1918
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FRANCE
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12 Oct 1918
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1 AGH
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Rejd unit from leave
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12 Oct 1918
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ROUEN
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25 Nov 1918
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Major Officer i/c Base Records
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Cable to mother, Mrs C .H. King re Award of Royal Red Cross, as follows:
Dear Madam,
I have much pleasure in forwarding hereunder copy of extract from Second Supplement
No. 30716 to the London Gazette, dated 3rd June, 1918, relating to conspicuous
services rendered by your daughter Sister A. Ross-King, M.M. 1st Australian General
Hospital.
------ AWARDED THE ROYAL RED CROSS DECORATION -----
-------- 2nd CLASS --------
" HIS MAJESTY THE KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of His Majesty's
birthday, to award the Royal Red Cross Decoration to the under-mentioned lady of
the Nursing Services in recognition of her valuable services with the Armies in
France and Flanders :-
Nursing Sister ALICE ROSS-KING M.M."
The above has been promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 173 dated
7th of November, 1918.
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7 Nov 1918
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MELBOURNE
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21 Dec 1918
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1 AGH
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T/H/S Proc
overseas to SUTTON VERY ex FRANCE
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19 Dec 1918
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ROUEN
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21 Dec 1918
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ESO SOUTHAMPTON
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Disembarked at SOUTHAMPTON from FRANCE & proceeding to
SUTTON VERY
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21 Dec 1918
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SOUTHAMPTON
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10 Jan 1919
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Detached to 2nd AAH for duty ex No 1 A Hosp S Very
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|
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10 Jan 1919
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Sister - Detached from attached duty with 1 AGH Sutton Very & Info to AIF HQ London.
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10 Jan 1919
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England
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Det from attached duty with 2 AAH for R.T.A.
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15 Jan 1919
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England
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14 Jan 1919
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Sister Retd to Aust from Eng per "CITY OF YORK" 1914 leave to Aust
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21 Jan 1919
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England
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No date is provided for Termination of Authority (Date of Discharge), however Wikipedia
gives Sep 1919 as the time of her discharge from the AANS.
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30 Apr 1920
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Sister A. Ross-King signs receipt for 1914-15 Star.
[The Service Record also notes the issue of the British War Medal,
Victory Medal, Military Medal, Royal Red Cross and Mentioned
in Despatches Certificate that she later requests.]
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8 Oct 1920
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Sister Ross signs receipt for one large and one small oak leaf
emblems [Mentioned in Despatches]
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29 Mar 1924
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File note states:
Particulars furnished, in connection with the award of
the M.M. to the Director, Australian War Memorial, Home
and Territories Dept., Box 214, Melbourne in response
to verbal request.
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|
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21 Aug 1924
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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOME AND TERRITORY DEPARTMENT,
AUSTRALIAN WAR MUSEUM MEMORIAL
EXHIBITION BUILDINGS,
MELBOURNE, 21 Aug 1924
MEMORANDUM for -
Officer i/c Base Records,
Victoria Barracks,
Melbourne
On various occasions you have kindly obliged this office
by furnishing the last known addresses of certain ex-officers
and ex-nurses of the A.I.F. with whom we desired to gain
touch. During the course of the ensuing correspondence a few
corrections in these addresses have had to be made. These I
subpend, considering that probably you will be glad to note
the alterations in your records:-
Lt.-Col H.T.C. Layh,
Epsom Street
Caulfield
Lt.-Col R.A. Rafferty,
Wivenhoe,
Via Burney,
Tasmania
Sister M.J. Derrer, now Mrs. M.J. Gallagher,
2nd A.C.C.C.S Sydney St.
Mackay,
North Q'land
Sister A. Ross King, now Mrs. Appleyard,
2nd A.C.C.C.S Lang Lang
Sth Gippsland.,
[Illegible]
Acting Director
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|
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21 Aug 1924
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Sister's address - see corres., dated 21 Aug 1924
Now Mrs. Appleyard, Lang Lang, Sth Gippsland.
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|
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Cable from Officer i/c Base Records
27 Aug 1924
The Director,
Australian War Memorial,
Home & Territories Department,
Exhibition Buildings
Melbourne
I desire to acknowledge the receipt of your communication - 18/1/1 - of the 21st AUgust,
and thank you for your courtesy in kindly advising this office of alterations to addresses,
of certain ex-members of the AUstralian Imperial Force, which have been duly noted on the
records of all concerned.
Captain
Officer i/c Base Records
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|
|
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255 Buckley St.
Essendon, Victoria
25 Nov 1941
To the Officer in Charge
Base Records
Canberra
Re Para in the Herald 7 Nov 1941
Dear Sir,
Will you tell me if there are two "Mention in Despatches"
Certificates with the unclaimed ones. Also if I may have
a copy of my Termination of Appointment. This may help me
in some war work I am enlisting for.
With Thanks,
Yours faithfully
(Mrs) Alice Ross Appleford
T/H SISTER ALICE ROSS-KING
1st A.G.H.
A.A.N.S.
(Please do not allow publicity) A.R.A.
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27 Nov 1941
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Letter from OIC Base records:
Dear Madam,
In reply to your enquiry of the 25th November, I have to advise that no Mentioned
in Despatches Certificates are held in your favour.
With regard to a copy of your service it is requested that you complete the
enclosed form of decoration and return it to this office, when a Statement of
Service in lieu of your last discharge will be forwarded to you, through the
District Records Office, Southern Command, 3 M.D., 339 Swanson Street, Melbourne.
Yours faithfully
A.J. BOWMAN
A/Officer i/c Base Records
Mrs. A. R. Appleford,
255 Buckley Street,
ESSENDON, VIC.
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|
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To be filled in for all Persons at the Place of Assembly when called out under Parts
III. or IV of the Defence Act, or when voluntarily enlisted.
|
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.(a)
(b)
6.(a)
(b)
7.(a.)
(b)
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
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What is your name?
Where were you born?
Are you a British Subject?
What is your age and date of birth?
What is your normal trade or occupation? Grade if any?
Present Occupation?
Are you married, single, or widower?
If married, date of marriage?
Have you had previous naval, military or Air Force service either in peace or war? If so, where and in what arm?
What was the reason for your discharge?
Who is your actual next of kin? (Order of relationship. wife, eldest son, eldest daughter, father, mother,
eldest brother, eldest sister, eldest half-brother, eldest half-sister)
What is your permanent address?
What is your religious denomination? (This question need not be ansewered if the man has a conscientious objection to doing so)
Which, if any of the following Educational Qualifications do you possess?
Have you ever been convicted by a Civil Court?
If so —(a) What Court?
(b) for what offence?
|
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.(a)
(b)
6.(a)
(b)
7.(a)
(b)
8.
9.
10.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
12.
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Surname
Other names
In or near the town of
in the state or country of
Age
Date of Birth
Name
Address
Relationship
Certificate for entry to Secondary School
Intermediate
Leaving
Leaving Honours
Technical
University Degree
Other Diplomas
|
APPLEFORD
ALICE ROSS
Ballarat
Victoria
Yes
50 yrs
5 Aug 1891
Trained Nurse. Home Duties
V.A.D. Voluntry Side
Married
20 Aug 1919
A.A.N.S. A.I.F.
Termination of Appointment
S.T. Appleford
255 Buckley St
Essendon
Husband
255 Buckley St
Essendon
Presbyterian
No
|
|
Date
Reported
|
Received
From
|
Chronological Events
Medical Other Disciplinary
|
Date
|
Remarks
|
|
2 Apr 1941
|
|
Assistant Controller
[This is somewhat at odds with the above enlistment date of 19 Nov 1941 and the official
appointment below.]
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|
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28 Aug 1942
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Vic L of C H.Q.
|
Taken on Strength & posted Assistant Controller Staff Duties HQ Vic
L of C Med Services
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2 Sep 1941
|
HQ VIC L of C
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28 Feb 1943
|
A.G
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To be Acting Major
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28 Feb 1943
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26 Feb 1943
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Attended No 1 Cse LHQ Adm [S?] Officers
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9 Apr 1947
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Discharged [But continued to serve in the AAMWS in a voluntary capacity until 1951]
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Honours and Awards
Florence Nightingale Medal (1949), Associate Royal Red Cross, Military Medal, 1914/15 Star,
British War Medal, Victory Medal, Mentioned in Despatches, 1939-1945 Star, Australia
Service Medal 1939-1945
Florence Nightingale Medal
Obverse, Florence Nightingale Medal
Ribbon, Florence Nightingale Medal
Originally intended to be awarded to six nurses annually, the first 42 awards were made in 1922 due
to the disruption of the 1st World War. The medal was restricted to female nurses until 1991.
The vesica piscis shaped medal is compose of gold and silver gilt and bears an image
of Florence Nightingale surrounded by the works Ad memoriam Florence Nightingale 1920-1910.
On the reverse is engraved with the name of the recipient surrounded by the enscription Pro vera
misericordia et cara humanitate perennis decor universalis ("True and loving humanitarianism -
a lasting general propriety".
THe medal is attached to a white and red ribbon by a clasp featuring a red enamel cross encircled
by a green laurel crown. Recipients are also presented with a parchment diploma of the award, and
from 1927 a miniature version of the medal that could be more easily worn. The medal and dipoloma
are usually presented by the head of state at a ceremony in their own country, which is required
to have a "formal character, in keeping with the founders' wishes".
Royal Red Cross (Gold) Obverse and Reverse
Associate Red Cross (Formerly '2nd Class') is in Silver
Foundation
The Royal Red Cross RRC) is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom
and Commonwealth Countries for exceptional services in military nursing.
The award was established on 23 April 1883 by Queen Victoria, with a single class
of Member and first awarded to the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.
A second and lower class, Associate, was added during World War I in November 1915.
The award is made to a fully trained nurse of an officially recognised nursing service,
military or civilian, who has shown exceptional devotion and competence in the performance
of nursing duties, over a continuous and long period, or who has performed an exceptional
act of bravery and devotion at her or his post of duty. It is conferred on members of the
nursing services regardless of rank. Holders of the second class who receive a further
award are promoted to the first class, although an initial award can also be made in the
first class. Holders of the first class who receive a further award are awarded a bar.
The decoration was conferred exclusively on women until 1976, when men became eligible,
with posthumous awards permitted from 1979.
Recipients of the Royal Red Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "RRC" or
"ARRC" for Members and Associates respectively.
Description
-
The badge for RRC is in the shape of a golden cross, 1.375 inches (3.49 cm) wide,
the obverse enamelled red, with a circular medallion, bearing an effigy of the
reigning monarch at its centre. The words "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" are
inscribed on the upper limbs of the cross, with the year "1883" in the lower limb.
The reverse is plain except a circular medallion bearing the royal cypher of the
reigning monarch.
-
The badge for ARRC is in the shape of a silver cross, 1.375 inches (3.49 cm) wide,
the obverse enamelled red, with broad silver edges around the enamel; a circular
medallion bearing an effigy of the reigning monarch at its centre.
The reverse has a circular medallion bearing the royal cypher of the reigning monarch,
with the words "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" inscribed on the upper three limbs of
the cross, with the year "1883" in the lower limb.
-
The ribbon for both grades is dark blue with crimson edge stripes. The decoration is
worn by women from the ribbon in the form of a bow, although it can be worn by both
sexes in military uniform on a straight ribbon alongside other medals. To recognise
further exceptional devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties or
exceptional act of bravery and devotion at her or his post of duty, a bar may be
awarded to a recipient of the RRC. The bar is linked to the cross and is made of red
enamel. A rosette is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote a bar to the RRC.
-
To recognise further exceptional devotion and competency in the performance of nursing
duties or exceptional act of bravery and devotion at her or his post of duty, a bar
may be awarded to a recipient of the RRC. The bar is linked to the cross and is made
of red enamel. A rosette is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote a bar to the RRC.
[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]
On 25 March 1916, King George V. instituted by Royal Warrant a new medal to be awarded to
warrant officers,non-commissioned officers and men of the Army for individual or associated
acts of bravery brought to notice be the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field.
The medal, which is silver, is designated "The Military Medal" and bears on the obverse,
the words "For Bravery in the Field" encircled by a wreath and surmounted by the Royal
Cypher and Crown. The medal is 1.42 inches in diameter and is mounted on an ornate scroll
suspender.
The medal is worn on the left breast immediately before war medals and the 1¼ inch
ribbon is dark blue, having in the centre three white and two crimson ⅛ inch
alternating stripes.
The award may be made to men and women for devotion to duty under fire, and bars may be
awarded for further services. Recipients are allowed to use the letters MM after their
names.
The Military Medal is a level 3 award, positioned after the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
and above the Mentioned in Despatched (MID), and was the soldiers' equivalent of the
Military Cross for officers.
As a level 3 award, The Military Medal was superceded by the Medal for Gallantry in the
Australian Honours system, after the Imperial Honours System was closed to Australian
Service Personnel. 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.
[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.
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.
[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.
Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
[Australian War Memorial - based on
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/mention-despatches,
extracted 11 Dec 2021
One of the oldest Imperial forms of recognition for bravery or distinguished
service is when a service man or woman was Mentioned in Despatches.
A despatch is an official report, written by a senior commander in the field
to pass on information about the progress of military operations.
Commanders would include in their despatches the names of those deserving
attention to their services. Mentions may be for a specific act of
bravery or for a period of outstanding service. During the Boer War it
became common practice to list the names at the end of a despatch.
If your name appeared in these lists you were said to have been
"Mentioned in Despatches". The despatches were usually published in
The London Gazette so a mention equated to a public
commendation.
This, and the Victoria Cross were the only forms of recognition for
gallantry or distinguished service in action which could be made
posthumously
Prior to 1919 those Mentioned in Despatches did not receive any form
of recognition other than having their names published in The
London Gazzette. In 1919 a certificate was introduced to
acknowledge those who received mention.
The following year an emblem of bronze oak leaves was issued to
individuals who had been mentioned. The device was worn at a
low angle in the centre of the Victory Medal and only one
device was awarded per person, even if an individual was
mentioned more than once.
After World War 1 the emblem was changed to a single bronze
oak leaf. Emblems granted for mentions during the Second World
War were worn in the centre of the 1939-45 War Medal. For
those Mentioned in Despatches between the two world wars, or
after the cessation of hostilities in the Second World War,
the emblem was worn on the ribbon of the appropriate general
service medal.
While the award of Mentioned in Despatches is abbreviated as
MID, the letters are not to be used as post-nominals.
The Australian Honours system has replaced the MID with the
awards of the Commendation for Gallantry, the Commendation
for Distinguished Service and for civilians, the
Commendation for Bravery as level four awards. They are
mounted with service medals and have a backing of appropriate
colour and a bronze emblem to denote the type of award.
Post-nominal letters are not used.
[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 1939-45 Star is awarded for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September&nbvsp;1945 for:
- a period of six months (180 days) operational service for RAN and Army personnel and RAAF non-air crew personnel;
- a period of two months operational service for air crew personnel; and/or
- a period of six months service at sea for Merchant Navy provided at least one voyage was made through one of the specified areas of active operations;
The 1939-45 Star is awarded to Australian Civilian Personnel who served afloat with the United States
Army Small Ships Section between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Eligibility is the same as that
for Merchant Navy personnel. See required evidence to support a claim.
Design
The six–pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design of the Royal and Imperial
cypher, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words ‘The 1939-45 Star’.
Stars issued to Australian personnel have recipient names engraved on the plain reverse.
Ribbon
The ribbon has three vertical stripes of dark blue, red and light blue. The dark blue stripe
represents the Naval Forces and the Merchant Navy, the red stripe the Armies and the light blue
stripe the Air Forces.
Clasps
The ‘BATTLE OF BRITAIN’ clasp was awarded to eligible air crew involved in the Battle of Britain.
The ‘BOMBER COMMAND’ clasp was introduced in 2012 and is awarded to eligible Bomber Command aircrew.
When the ribbon is worn alone the standard silver rosette ribbon emblem is worn to denote the award of a clasp.
The silver rosette emblem is not supplied by the Directorate of Honours and Awards.
Australia Service Medal 1939-1945
The Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 was instituted in 1949 to recognise the service of members
of the Australian Armed Forces and the Australian Mercantile Marine during World War II.
The medal was originally awarded to those who served at home or overseas for at least 18 months
full-time service, or three years part-time service, between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.
Members of the Australian Mercantile Marine must have served the qualifying time at sea.
In 1996 the qualifying time was reduced to 30 days full-time or 90 days part-time service. To be eligible
for the medal a serviceman or woman must have been honourably discharged from the Australian Armed Forces.
Design
The medal is nickel silver with the crowned effigy of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse has the
Australian coat of arms, placed centrally, surrounded by the words ‘THE AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939-1945’.
Ribbon
The ribbon has a wide khaki central stripe, flanked by two narrow red stripes, which are in turn flanked by
two outer stripes, one of dark blue and the other of light blue. The khaki represents the Australian Army,
and the red, dark blue and light blue represent the Merchant Navy, Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian
Air Force respectively.
Attribution
The above information is from the Defence Honours site at http://www.defence.gov.au/Medals/Imperial/WWII/Australia-Service-Medal-1939-1945.asp, taken on 19 Jun 2019.
