february july australian recipient victoria_cross highest decoration gallantry face enemy awarded members british commonwealth armed forces described australia second decorated soldier world war enlisted february served gallipoli transferred western months commissioned decorated times bravery apprentice war returned australia worked published hell book written collaboration war experiences attempting enlist service second world war rejected grounds age enlisting alias queensland identity discovered short period training position sought discharge aged died heart attack early life born sydney suburb new south wales february wife elizabeth née member years worked apprentice engineering works near newcastle leaving school years served member february enlisted prospects better pay world war training february western having received initial training allotted company 18th battalion lance corporal embarked egypt aboard 18th battalion trained egypt mid june mid august proceeding gallipoli landed august battalion fought battle day staging attack turkish held hill engagement lasted august half battalion casualties briefly assuming duties bearer served gallipoli unit december admitted 5th field ambulance evacuated peninsula suffering admitted remained december posted camp rejoined 18th battalion january evacuated december previous year posted egypt february admitted disease returned battalion days embarked france western march arriving france admitted 7th australian field ambulance transferred 3rd following wounds sustained battle moved 1st depot discharged base details days later later found guilty breaking ranks parade day absent leave reduced ranks rejoining battalion june took received promotion sergeant october suffering right knee hospitalised days posted training battalion england november stayed months embarking france rejoining 18th battalion days later briefly france selected officer training shortly arriving england attended party group soldiers military police raided party called local police assistance confronting group fined sent unit actions western august selected officer training july posted officers cadet battalion promoted company sergeant major august rejoining 18th battalion september days later engaged action near performed deeds earned distinguished conduct medal battle commander platoon killed took command led attack noticing newly captured positions heavy fire led men safer secure position casualties commissioned field second lieutenant september took engagements belgium following month earned promotion lieutenant january admitted 7th australian field ambulance january suffering having discharged hospital rejoined 18th battalion january march commanded scouting patrol operating east having obtained required information ordered patrol withdraw men covering withdrawal main body noticed thirty germans nearby recalling patrol led attack party sheltered old trench germans quickly withdrew leaving dead wounded prisoner war awarded actions engagement news published supplement london gazette spring 18th battalion involved operations repel german offensive took actions granted leave went england july returned france rejoined 18th battalion august taking earn bar military cross august battalion preparing attack near took command company officers casualties leadership company able attack time despite subjected heavy fire tank preceded advance immediately object enemy fire knocked gun close proximity rushed opened hatch allowing crew escape escorting tank commander safety returned lead company attack succeeded reaching consolidating objective award bar published supplement london gazette february victoria_cross october august october 5th brigade 18th battalion engaged battle world war line close taking battle member attacking party line performed acts awarded victoria_cross early advance company commander severely wounded resulting assuming control reaching german defences intense machine gun fire company suffered heavy casualties including officers pushing forward narrow wire captured dangerous machine gun killed germans took prisoners enabling company wire reach objective shortly noticed company left flank held failing advance gathering party men led group attempt attack german force rear soon came heavy machine gun fire single forward attacked foremost gun firing revolver managed shoot crew silence gun later advance learnt english speaking prisoner group germans adjacent post wished surrender afraid accompanied prisoner act interpreter approached post australians immediately surrounded group german soldiers disarmed set prisoners artillery barrage fell position taking advantage resulting confusion pulled concealed revolver shot germans escaping men heavy rifle fire subsequently wounded organising party men immediately attacked captured post citation victoria_cross appeared supplement london gazette january read 6th january majesty king pleased approve award victoria_cross officers 18th conspicuous bravery leadership attack line near estates 3rd october company commander severely wounded early advance took charge enemy wire reached intense fire found exceptionally strong closely supported machine guns pushed forward single handed wire captured dangerous gun killing capturing enemy enabled company penetrate wire reach objective later forward single handed gun holding flank company subsequently men attempted capture strong party enemy handled involved situation resource comrades escaped day set high example personal bravery coupled excellent judgment quick decision training away armistice declared november march invested victoria cross king george ballroom buckingham palace headed australia aboard melbourne june proceeding sydney discharged august later life following worked canberra district having described reporter married year old unrelated catholic ceremony hill sydney february marriage produced daughter jean dissolved november attended recipients victoria_cross sydney saw publication hell book written collaboration experiences war time working canberra book success soon spent money late 1930s wrote manuscript second book entitled line book published manuscript lost lent read acted defence witness trial accused platoon commander testified good character strongly affected war outbreak second world war attempts enlist unsuccessful age deteriorating health eventually travelled queensland enlisted alias june identity soon discovered given training position dissatisfied took discharge september joined contingent victoria_cross recipients invited coronation queen elizabeth_ii march describing journalist married widow née burton sydney years later attended victoria_cross centenary celebrations london later visiting france wife attended opening corner australian war memorial canberra determined victoria cross wind collection believing award july collapsed died heart attack street home town new_south_wales invalid time funeral service took place military honours having cremated ashes interred presented husband medals victoria barracks subsequently medals portrait brass copy citation unveiled minister defence medals presented australian war memorial permanent loan basis
Joseph Maxwell