Thomas Leslie Axford VC, MM (18 June 1894–11 October 1983), also known as Jack Axford, was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The Military Medal was (until 1993 a Military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries Year 1894 ( MDCCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
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Early life
Thomas Leslie Axford was born on 18 June 1894 at Carrieton, South Australia. Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries Year 1894 ( MDCCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Carrieton is a small town situated in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia. South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country He moved to Coolgardie, Western Australia with his family at the age of two, and worked at the Boulder Brewery after leaving school. Coolgardie is a small town in the Australian state of Western Australia, east of the state capital Perth. Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent.
Military service
Axford enlisted in the Australian military forces in 1912. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. He served in the 84th Infantry Regiment until July 1915, when he was allocated to the 11th Reinforcements of the 16th Battalion (S. A. and W. A. ), Australian Imperial Force (AIF). The Australian Imperial Force (AIF was the name given to two all- Volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and He left for the front on board the HMAT Benalla in November.
Axford was wounded in August 1916, and in August 1917 was so badly wounded that he did not rejoin his battalion until January 1918. In February 1918 he was promoted to Lance-Corporal. Lance Corporal is a Military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide and also by some Police forces and other uniformed organizations
On 4 July 1918, the following deed 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. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. 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.
In addition to the VC, Axford was also that month awarded the Military Medal and promoted to Corporal. The Military Medal was (until 1993 a Military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations
Axford returned to Western Australia in October 1918, and was discharged on 2 February 1919. Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Later life
In November 1919 Axford was working as a miner in Kalgoorlie. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body In June 1941, during World War II, he re-enlisted and served with the Western Australian Echelon and Records Office. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including He was discharged with the rank of Sergeant in April 1947. Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries police forces and other uniformed organizations around the world In later life he lived for many years in Perth in the suburb of Mount Hawthorn. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. Mount Hawthorn is a suburb of Perth Western Australia, located within the Town of Vincent. He died on 11 October 1983 and was cremated at the Karrakatta Crematorium in Perth. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. The Australian War Memorial is Australia 's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated Canberra ( is the capital city of Australia With a population of over 340000 it is Australia's largest inland City. Axford Park in Mount Hawthorn is named in his honour.
References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)
External links
- Burial location of Thomas Axford "Western Australia"
- Location of Thomas Axford's Victoria Cross "Australian War Memorial"
- Thomas Axford at Find-A-Grave
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