Victory Medal : Lance Sergeant R C Trevan, 23 Battalion, AIF Accession Number: REL/04143.002

Description

Victory Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's name.

Contextual Description

Robert Bidulph Carew Trevan was born in Horsham Victoria in December 1881. He served in the Boer War as 666 Private Trevan with the 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse.

In 1908 he married Edna Rose Horner, and the couple had two children. Whilst working as a store keeper in Gippsland, Trevan enlisted with the AIF on 24 February 1916. He was assigned the regimental number 5104 and allotted to the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion. After basic training at Broadmeadows, he embarked for active service on 19 July 1916 on HMAT Armadale, arriving at Plymouth on 20 September 1916. After further training with the 6 Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plain, Private Trevan marched in to Etaples on 26 November 1916. He was billeted throughout a cold and slushy month. Private Trevan was moved by train to the front line near Fleshells. From there he marched on to Trones Wood near Guillimont, where he spent Christmas Day 1916 draining water out of the communication dug-outs for brigade headquarters. The following year, in February 1917 he was transferred to the 6th Machine Gun Company. Trevan survived the year of fighting, collecting souvenirs of war as often as possible. He spent Christmas 1917 on leave in London. Returning to France, Trevan was promoted to Lance Corporal in August 1918. The month before Armistice, Trevan’s unit fought at the Canal du St Quentin but were relieved by Americans and sent on a short furlough. Trevan was in London on 11 November when news of the Armistice came through. He assisted in building a large celebratory bonfire of wood, building blocks and two ‘Fritz 77s’. Returning to France on 22 November, Trevan’s Sixth Brigade were reviewed by King George and Prince Alfred. After sightseeing in Paris, Trevan returned to England, was promoted to Lance Sergeant in March, and sailed for Australia on 11 July 1919. Robert Trevan also enlisted to serve in the Second World War, serving from 12 May 1941 for two and a half years with the 17 Garrison Battalion. He died in 1956 aged 75.