march june australian recipient victoria_cross highest decoration gallantry face enemy awarded members british commonwealth armed forces australia final recipient victoria_cross world war following actions attack village france leading platoon engagement instigated charges number german strong points seizure machine guns prisoners inflicting high casualties born victorian town carpenter leaving school joining militia age fourteen later settled melbourne worked building contractor following outbreak world war enlisted australian naval military expeditionary force served new_guinea receiving discharge early enlisting day embarked western decorated military medal following actions member bombing section attack commissioned second lieutenant june returned australia discharged soon settling melbourne employed building contractor company enlisting service second world war allotted achieved rank captain placed retired list died age early life born victoria march farmer wife charlotte née initially educated left school age fourteen carpenter joining militia time attached company australian attended military exhibition new_zealand member australian contingent completing moved melbourne entered business building contractor january married ceremony world war december enlisted private military expeditionary force south initially posted service newly captured german territory new_guinea returned australia december discharged january rank corporal day enlisted allotted 16th reinforcements 24th battalion private october embarked unit melbourne aboard arriving france appointed acting corporal joined january night march took battalion attack village german withdrawal posted bombing section engagement involved fight german troops outnumbered unit making effective use grenades unit able hold german attack later assault german forces returned large numbers forcing bombing section retreat conjunction covered party withdrawal casualties actions battle awarded military medal citation noting great courage initiative announcement award published supplement london gazette promoted temporary sergeant march fell ill april hospitalised britain june deemed fit return battalion hospitalised september knee returning unit october company sergeant major time australian focus remainder year sector belgium 24th battalion participated time recommended commission 24th battalion second lieutenant confirmed june days later admitted hospital suffering illness unable assume duties officer july returned battalion victoria_cross october 24th battalion took attack captured sector france expecting rest following day unit unexpectedly ordered attack assault commence village lead capture 21st 24th battalions tanks provide support action prove final engagement australian infantry war attack earn victoria_cross fourth final australian world war designated time infantry battalions commenced attack cover artillery barrage advance heavily counter attacked german machine gun artillery fire australians managed continue despite late arrival tanks approximately yards german trenches 24th commanding platoon object severe sniper machine gun fire halting unit advance cover lewis gun ahead men led german strong point fierce fight platoon succeeded capturing machine guns killing germans occupied line accounting eighteen soon company came heavy fire old quarry occupied german soldiers possessed machine guns severe casualties sustained began advance attack including company commander fell seriously wounded taking command attack rallied men rushed forward jumping quarry charged post shooting german soldiers capturing machine gun german forces soon overcome thirty troops subsequently surrendered men clearing remaining german positions scouted ahead search machine gun nests village soon located positioned house firing cellar managing enter house shot gunner fired shots cellar rushing head cellar stairs cutting means escape thirty germans taken prisoner battle night time line linked consolidated casualties high companies 27th battalion attached support 24th battalion left time october citation victoria_cross appeared supplement london gazette january read 6th january majesty king pleased approve award victoria_cross officers 24th conspicuous bravery initiative attack east 5th october early advance platoon held strong point rushed post head men capturing machine guns killing enemy resistance later company suffered severe casualties enemy posts leaders fallen took control situation rallied men intense fire led forward rushed post shot enemy captured machine gun overcoming resistance subsequent occasions displayed great dash resource capture enemy posts inflicting casualties taking prisoners day showed inspiring example courage leadership freely exposed regardless danger promoted lieutenant october training away battalion armistice signed november ending war february decorated victoria cross king george ballroom buckingham palace boarding bound australia soon arrived melbourne march discharged june later life following discharge settled melbourne gained employment general frank ltd building contractors marriage wife jane dissolved grounds behalf february following year married née hart widow methodist pair later son november attended victoria dinner recipients victoria_cross melbourne following completion melbourne chosen member permanent guard applications position fourteen appointed earliest following outbreak second world war volunteered services enlisted militia november posted unit achieved rank captain placed retired list wife died december year married widow née ceremony couple later son alex attended dedication shrine remembrance queen elizabeth_ii duke edinburgh february following expansion monument encompass australia contributions second world war years later joined australian contingent victoria_cross recipients attended parade london park commemorate centenary institution victoria_cross june died disease home hastings victoria buried commemorated street canberra victoria_cross military medal campaign medals awarded sold auction melbourne approximate hammer price medals unknown indicated victoria_cross donated australian war memorial canberra subsequently took place currently display medals
George Ingram