OUR ANZACS
Streets named after Victoria Cross recipients WHILE not a great deal is known about the development of Bittern and Crib Point, it is obvious that the area was subdivided after the First World War. The developers sought to honour those who had served in the war by the names they gave the streets and troads. Many streets in the two towns are named after Victoria Cross recipients, which was done to honour their sacrifice in the “Great War”. The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration and is awarded for valour “in the face of the enemy” to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. In the United Kingdom, it is usually presented to the recipient or to their next of kin by the British monarch at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. In countries other than Britain where the monarch is the head of state, the GovernorGeneral usually presents the medal. The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to honour acts of valour during the Crimean War. Since then, the medal has been awarded 1356 times to 1353 individuals. Only 13 medals – nine to members of the British Army, and four to the Australian Army – have been awarded since the Second World War. The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannons captured at the siege of Sevastopol.
BLACKBURN ST
Lieutenant Arthur Seaforth Blackburn
Born 25 November 1892, Woodville, SA On 23 July 1916, at Pozières, France, Blackburn was directed with 50 men to drive the enemy from a strong point. By great determination he captured 250 yards of trench, after personally leading four separate parties of bombers against it, many of whom became casualties. Then after crawling forward with a sergeant to reconnoitre, he returned, attacked again, and seized another 120 yards of trench to establish communications with the battalion on his left.
BUCKLEY ST
Bittern Sergeant Maurice Vincent Buckley Born 13 April 1891, Hawthorn, Vic
On 18 September 1918, at Le Verguier near St. Quentin, Buckley’s battalion set off behind a creeping barrage and cleared several enemy outposts, two of which fell to Buckley’s Lewis gun. When a field gun held up one company, he rushed towards it, shot the crew and raced under machine gun fire across open ground to put a trench mortar out of action. He then fired into an enemy dug-out and captured 30 Germans. By the end of the day he had rushed at least six machine gun positions, captured a field gun and taken nearly 100 prisoners.
Recent research has thrown doubt on this story, suggesting a variety of origins for the material from which the medals are made. A single company of jewellers, Hancocks of London, has been responsible for the production of every Victoria Cross awarded since its inception Due to its rarity, the VC is highly prized. Listed on following pages are 21 streets in Bittern and Crib Point named after Victoria Cross winners and a brief biography.
BURTON AVE
Bittern
DARTNELL CL Bittern & Crib Point
Corporal Alexander Burton
Temporary Lieutenant Thomas Dartnell
Born 20 Jan 1893 Kyneton, Vic
On 9 August 1915, at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, the enemy made a determined counter-attack on a newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporals Burton, Dunstan and a few men. They advanced up a trench and blew in a sandbag barricade, but Tubb and the two corporals repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Strong enemy bombing parties twice again succeeded in blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion the enemy were repulsed and the barricade rebuilt, although Tubb was wounded and Corporal Burton killed while most gallantly building up the parapet under a hail of bombs. His body was never recovered.
COOKE ST
Bittern Private Thomas Cooke
PAGE H
Bittern
William
Born 6 April 1885 , Collingwood, VIC On 3 September 1915, near Maktau, Kenya, during a mounted infantry engagement, the enemy were so close that it was impossible to get the more severely wounded away. Lieutenant Dartnell, who was himself being carried away wounded in the leg, seeing the situation, and knowing that the enemy’s black troops murdered the wounded, insisted on being left behind, in the hope of being able to save the lives of other wounded men. He gave his own life in a gallant attempt to save others.
HAMILTON ST
Bittern & Crib Point
Born 5 July 1881, Marlborough, New Zealand
Private John Hamilton
On 24/25 July 1916 at Pozières, France. For most conspicuous bravery. After a Lewis gun had been disabled, he was ordered to take his gun and gun-team to a dangerous part of the line. Here he did fine work, but came under very heavy fire, with the result that finally he was the only man left. He still stuck to his post and continued to fire his gun. When assistance was sent he was found dead beside his gun. He set a splendid example of determination and devotion to duty.
On 9 August, during a heavy bomb attack by the enemy on the newly captured position at Lone Pine, Private Hamilton, with utter disregard of personal safety, exposed himself under heavy fire on the parados [rear side of a trench] in order to secure a better firing position against the enemy’s bomb-throwers. His coolness and daring example had an immediate effect. The defence was encouraged and the enemy driven off with heavy loss.
Western Port News ANZAC Special Edition 2018
Born 24 January, 1896, Orange, NSW