The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'HERBERT EDWARD RULE'.
Born in Penola, South Australia in 1895, Herbert Edward Rule was employed as a painter near Monomeith, Victoria when he enlisted in the AIF at Warragul on 18 October 1916. He had previously been rejected because he was 'too small' (just under 5 foot 3 inches), although he had served in the citizen forces with the 56th Regiment (The Yarra Borderers). Rule was posted as a private, service number 7058, to the 23rd Reinforcements for the 7th Battalion. He embarked from Melbourne on 23 November aboard HMAT A20 Hororata.
Rule transferred to the 67th Battalion in April 1917, while he was training in England. He remained with them until 1 September, when he joined the 37th Battalion. He was wounded in the right buttock at Passchendaele in Belgium, on 12 October and evacuated to the East Leeds War Hospital in England. At the end of the year he transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Rule rejoined his battalion in France on 6 March 1918. He was severely wounded in the chest and left side of the body at Marette Wood on 21 April, and died later that day at the 20th (British) Casualty Clearing Station. He is buried in the Vignacourt British Cemetery.
This commemorative plaque was sent to his mother, Mrs Caroline Rule, in March 1923.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. B
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.