Military Medal and bar: Corporal V W Lalor, 14 Battalion, AIF Accession Number: REL/05782.002

Description

Military Medal and bar (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Contextual Description

5688 Corporal Vivian William Lalor, enlisted on 9 February 1916 in the 18th Reinforcements of 14 Battalion, AIF. He returned to Australia on 12 December 1918. Lalor was awarded the Distinguish Conduct Medal on 18 September 1918 near Ascension Wood, France. He was awarded the Military Medal (MM) on 26 September 1917 at Zonnebeke, and a bar to the MM on 8 August 1918 near Morcourt, France. The recommendation for the MM reads 'During the operations near ZONNEBEKE on 26th September, 1917, L/Cpl. LALOR pushed ahead of the objective and engaged enemy an Machine Gun with a Lewis Gun and beat down the enemy fire, enabling his Company to carry on with the work of consolidation'. The recommenadtion for the bar to MM reads 'For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near MORCOURT, E. of Corbie, on 8th August 1918. This N.C.O. did magnificent work throughout, and the daring manner in which he pushed forward his gun to cover the advance of his platoon, and his continued success in neutralizing the fire of enemy machine guns on three separate occasions, was of inestimable value to the operation. His Section was one of the most conspicuously active units on the front. Towards the end of the advance a shell rendered all of the section save himself casualties. Corporal LALOR, however, carrying the gun and loaded with magazines, carried on alone to the objective and there inflicted heavy casualties on the retiring enemy. His work was invaluable'.