Thomas Axford
| Thomas Leslie "Jack" Axford | |
|---|---|
 Jack Axford |
|
| Nickname | Jack |
| Born | 18 June 1894 Carrieton, South Australia |
| Died | 11 Oct 1983 (aged 89) Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia |
| Allegiance |  Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1912–1919 1941–1947 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Medal |
Thomas Leslie "Jack" Axford VC, MM (18 June 1894 – 11 October 1983), was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Axford was born on 18 June 1894 at Carrieton, South Australia. He moved to Coolgardie, Western Australia with his family at the age of two, and worked at the Boulder Brewery after leaving school.
[edit] Military service
Axford enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces military forces in 1912. He served in the 84th Infantry Regiment until July 1915, when he joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Axford was assigned to the 11th Reinforcements of the 16th Battalion on 9 August 1915, which left Australia on HMAT Benalla that November.[1][2]
Axford was wounded in August 1916 and again in August 1917, the second time so badly that he did not rejoin his battalion until January 1918. In February 1918, he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On 24 May 1918, Axford was awarded the Military Medal.[3][4]
On 4 July 1918, the events took place for which Axford was awarded the VC:
- On 4 July 1918 during the attack at Vaire and Hamel Woods, France, when the advance of the adjoining platoon was being delayed in uncut wire and machine-gun fire, and his company commander had become a casualty, Lance-Corporal Axford charged and threw bombs amongst the enemy gun crews. He then jumped into the trench, and charging with his bayonet, killed 10 of the enemy and took six prisoners. He threw the machine-guns over the parapet and the delayed platoon was able to advance. He then rejoined his own platoon and fought with it during the remainder of the operations.[5]
In addition to the VC, Axford was also that month promoted to corporal.
Axford returned to Western Australia in October 1918, and was discharged on 2 February 1919.
[edit] Later life
In November 1919 Axford was working as a miner in Kalgoorlie. In June 1941, during the Second World War, he re-enlisted and served with the Western Australian Echelon and Records Office.[6] He was discharged with the rank of sergeant in April 1947.[7] In later life he lived for many years in Perth in the suburb of Mount Hawthorn. He died on 11 October 1983 and was cremated at the Karrakatta Crematorium in Perth. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Axford Park in Mount Hawthorn, and the Thomas Axford ward at the former Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood, are named in his honour.
[edit] Honours and awards
_ribbon.png){kind=small}
_ribbon.png){kind=small}
_ribbon.png){kind=small}
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
|
Victoria Cross | For his actions on the 4th July during the Battle of Hamel, gazetted 1918[5] |
|
Military Medal | gazetted 1918[4] |
|
1914–15 Star | Awarded for service overseas (or en-route) during 1914 or 1915[3] |
|
British War Medal 1914–18 | Awarded for Operational Service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918[3] |
|
Victory Medal 1914–19 | Awarded to commemorate the Allied Victory in the First World War[3] |
|
War Medal 1939–1945 | Awarded for Service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945[6] |
|
Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 | Awarded for Service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945[6] |
|
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal | Awarded to a selected number of Australian/Imperial Citizens to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953[3] |
[edit] References
- ^ The AIF Project, www.aif.adfa.edu.au. Retrieved on 9 September 2009.
- ^ Nominal Roll, 11th Reinforcements, 16th Btn AIF, Australian War Memorial
- ^ a b c d e "Item 1935323". Service Record of Axford Thomas Leslie VC : SERN 3399. National Archives of Australia. http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=1935323. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ a b London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30897. p. 10777. 13 September 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2009. (Military Medal)
- ^ a b London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30849. p. 9660. 17 August 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2009. (Victoria Cross)
- ^ a b c Australian War Memorial, Biography "Thomas Axford"
- ^ Australian War Memorial, Service Details "Thomas Axford"
[edit] External links
- P. L. Edgar, 'Axford, Thomas Leslie (Jack) (1894–1983)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 17, Melbourne University Press, pp 45–46.
- Burial location of Thomas Axford "Western Australia"
- Location of Thomas Axford's Victoria Cross "Australian War Memorial"
- Thomas Axford at Find-A-Grave
