june march australian recipient victoria_cross highest decoration gallantry face enemy awarded members british commonwealth armed forces award granted posthumously cherry actions attack french village strongly defended german forces born australian state victoria cherry moved tasmania age seven family took apple orchard expert apple skilled rifle shot member franklin rowing club commissioned second lieutenant infantry regiment served drill instructor outbreak war enlisting march served gallipoli transferring western early march cherry decorated following attack led party capturing german machine gun posts killed german shell day following victoria_cross action early life cherry born june victoria wife elizabeth née seven years old family moved tasmania took apple orchard near cherry attended local state school thirteen received private tuition worked father expert apple fourteen won local case making competition packing thirty cases hour joining cherry soon sergeant later second lieutenant drill cadets different districts age sixteen won president trophy gold medal best shot rifle range franklin rowed franklin rowing club played franklin brass band sang anglican church choir cherry joined commissioned infantry regiment second lieutenant world war march western march outbreak war cherry sent assumed duties drill instructor march enlisted allotted qualified infantry officer considered young commission instead june battalion embarked brisbane egypt cherry aboard arrival battalion spent months training desert cherry promoted company sergeant major august september battalion landed gallipoli played defensive role december injured bomb wounds face head cherry evacuated egypt commissioned second lieutenant december days later withdrawn gallipoli evacuated egypt cherry rejoined preparation service western remaining egypt time cherry selected attend machine gun course march completion transferred 7th machine gun company france commanded company august wounded duel german officer german officer leading attack cherry position exchanging shots neighbouring shell holes eventually rose firing simultaneously german officer hit cherry neck mortally wounded cherry return cherry approached dying man pulled package letters pocket asked cherry censored posted cherry promised german handed letters words ends died shortly result wounds cherry evacuated england treatment promoted lieutenant august cherry returned unit november following month temporary captain transferred 26th battalion commanding officer rank confirmed february march involved battalion actions village march cherry led company attack german held position situated villages artillery fire failed adequately cut lines advancing troops cherry led section men wire found break gap rushed machine gun posts capturing single handed turned fleeing germans wounded actions engagement cherry awarded published supplement london gazette april victoria_cross march 7th brigade tasked capture engagement cherry earn victoria_cross artillery barrage opened village continued minutes allowing infantry close plan cherry company storm village battalion companies encircled assault cherry split company sections commanded section placed lieutenant company soon action cherry section captured large fortified farm edge village entered muddy main street australians came heavy fire houses lining road adjacent stable yard cherry rushed stable yard fierce developed germans surrendered cherry men moved found main resistance coming large crater spotted white chalk crossroads village centre germans stout defence holding advance cherry sent messenger mortars delay cherry decided rush position cover rifle grenade fire capturing crater found lieutenant wounded taken command second section wounded reduced men capturing crater cherry pushed village party emerged buildings far stiff fight ensured group germans dug outs road company able meet fellow units bypassed village established north east area cherry orders fall reserve disregarded counter attack forthcoming march germans launched strong counter attack heavy artillery fire point cherry noticed germans firing yellow australian positions gunners found fired away position german attempts retake cost 7th brigade casualties day abandoned counterattack death legacy afternoon march shell burst sunken road east killing cherry men buried road cemetery grave citation cherry posthumous award victoria_cross appeared supplement london gazette reading 11th majesty king pleased approve award victoria_cross officers man 2nd late imp force conspicuous bravery determination leadership command company detailed storm clear village officers company casualties carried care determination face fierce opposition cleared village enemy sent frequent reports progress held time enemy strong point organised machine gun bomb parties captured position leadership bravery set wonderful example men having cleared village took charge situation beat heavy counter attacks enemy wounded refused leave post remained encouraging hold costs officer killed enemy shell cherry victoria_cross presented father governor tasmania sir october photograph cherry unveiled headquarters victoria_cross currently display australian war memorial medals
Percy Cherry