b'118824 Allied offensive of the warthe Hundred Days Offensive THE VICTORIA CROSS FOR VALOUR : Souvenir Dinner Currey was one of eight Australians awarded the Victoria Menu, 1919, with multiple SIGNATURES Cross for their actions during the Battle of Mont Saint-DINNER Offered by Mr. Hugh D. McIntosh to Heros ofQuentin. On 1 September 1918 in the attack on Pronne, the A.I.F. on whom His Majesty the King conferred theCurrey, a 22-year-old private in the 53rd Battalion, rushed VICTORIA CROSS FOR VALOUR : HOTEL AUSTRALIA : forward under heavy machine-gun fire and captured single-on the night of ARMISTICE DAY, NOVEMBER 11th, 1919. handed a 77mm field gun which had been holding up the advance, killing all the crew. Later, when the advance was Following the title pages, the menu and a page devoted to achecked by an enemy strong-point he crept round the flank poem, To these Brave by Frank Morton, the following 26and engaged the post with a Lewis gun, then rushed it, pages bear the original signatures of the following 19 Victoriacausing many casualties. Subsequently he volunteered to Cross recipients (in the order they appear) as well as severalcarry orders for withdrawal to an isolated company, bringing other notable guests: back valuable information, doing so under heavy fire and PROVENANCE despite being gassed. The citation published in the London The Estate of Sir Ernest Henry Wreford (1866 - 1938),Gazette of 14 December 1918 concluded that his behaviour thence by family descent. was a striking example of coolness, determination and utter $6,00010,000 disregard of danger. and his gallant work contributed largely to the success of the operation. His V.C. is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.Wreford, a guest of McIntosh, has signed the title page. TheJ.H. Davidson, Secretary to the Honourable H.W. McIntosh, Compliments page is signed by six other dignitaries, includingMember of the N.S.W. Legislative Council and the host of the Henry Teasdale Smith (an M.P. and associate of McIntosh,dinner.whose son, Malcolm, had died at Gallipoli), Charles Kinnaird5: Thomas James Bede KENNY (1896 - 1953) born at MacKellar, Edmund Cowell (13th Light Horse), and others. Paddington, Sydney. On 9 April 1917, at Hermies, France, 1: Albert LOWERSON (1896 - 1945) born at Myrteford,Kennys platoon was held up by an enemy strong point. Victoria. Sergeant 21st Battalion. Awarded the V.C. for mostDespite heavy enemy fire, he ran alone towards the enemy, conspicuous bravery and tactical skill on the 1st September,killing one man who tried to stop him, and soon after bombing 1918, during the attack on Mont Saint-Quentin. Regardlessthe enemy position. Kenny was successful in wounding and of heavy enemy machine gun fire, Sergeant Lowerson movedcapturing the gun crew and seizing the gun. For his actions about fearlessly directing his men, encouraging them to stillin Hermies he was awarded the Victoria Cross. His V.C. is greater effort, and finally led them on to the objective. Ondisplayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.reaching the objective he saw that the left attacking party6: George Julian Snowy HOWELL (1893 - 1964) born at was held up by an enemy strong post heavily manned withEnfield, Sydney. He served briefly on Gallipoli before being twelve machine guns. Under the heaviest sniping and machinesent to France, where he was wounded at Pozires in July gun fire, Sergeant Lowerson rallied seven men as a storming1916. In April 1917 he won the Military Medal for his bravery party, and directing them to attack the flanks of the post,leading a bombing section in an attack.rushed the strong point, and, by effective bombing, captured it, together with twelve machine guns and thirty prisoners.The outstanding feat for which he received the Victoria Cross Though severely wounded in the right thigh, he refused totook place at Bullecourt on June 6th, 1917, when he single-leave the front line until the prisoners had been disposed of,handedly fought off an enemy counter-attack with bombs, and the organization and consolidation of the post had beenrifle, and bayonet before he was severely wounded. His V.C. is thoroughly completed. His V.C. is displayed at the Australiandisplayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.War Memorial, Canberra. George Warburton FULLER (1861 - 1940), Member of Edmund Albert Charles COWELL (13th Light Horse Regiment)the N.S.W. Legislative Assembly and later Premier of born at Ballan, Victoria, Cowells regiment was deployedNew South Wales. The construction of the Sydney Harbour defending the trenches at Lone Pine, a strongly contestedBridge was commenced during his premiership.stretch of the front line around Anzac Cove. They later served7: William DUNSTAN (1895 - 1957) born at Ballarat, on the Western Front. Victoria. Dunstan was 20 years old and a corporal in the 7th 2: Reginald Roy Inwood (1890 - 1971) born at NorthBattalion, A.I.F. when he was awarded the VC for his actions Adelaide, South Australia. Inwood was amongst theon 9 August 1915, during the Battle of Lone Pine on Gallipoli. first landers at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. In April 1917,During the action Turkish forces had made a determined Inwood was with his battalion when it fought in the Battle ofcounter-attack on the centre of a newly captured trench Lagnicourt, then the Second Battle of Bullecourt the followingheld by a lieutenant, Frederick Harold Tubb, two corporals month. During the Battle of Menin Road in September, he was(Alexander Stewart Burton and Corporal Dunstan), and a few involved in the elimination of a German machine-gun post andmen. The Turkish blew in the sand-bag barricade, leaving only other actions, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.a 25cm standing, but Tubb, Burton and Dunstan repelled them He reached the rank of sergeant before being sent back toand rebuilt the barricade. Twice more the Turkish blew in the Australia in August 1918. barricade and on each occasion they were repelled and the His V.C. and other medals are displayed at the Adelaide Townbarricade rebuilt. He later achieved the rank of lieutenant. His Hall. V.C. is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.3: Arthur Charles HALL (1896 - 1978) born at Granville,8: George Morby INGRAM (1889 - 1961) born at Bendigo, Sydney. Corporal Hall participated in his battalions attackVictoria. Ingram became Australias final recipient of the on Pronne, on 2nd September 1918. He rushed a machine- Victoria Cross during the First World War following his actions gun post holding up the advance, shot four of the occupants,during an attack on the village of Montbrehain in France. and captured nine others, along with two machine-guns. HeLeading a platoon during the engagement, he instigated provided excellent covering support to his company, and whileseveral charges against a number of German strong points in advance of the main attack located enemy posts and ledthat eventuated in the seizure of ten machine guns and sixty-parties to deal with them. Next day he rescued a woundedtwo prisoners, as well as inflicting high casualties. He had comrade. Throughout all this, he showed utter disregardalready been awarded the Military Medal for his . great [for the enemy] and inspired confidence in all. His V.C. iscourage and initiative . during a battle in March 1917. His displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. V.C. is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.4: William Matthew CURREY (1895 - 1948) born atAlexander R. BARCLAY, born Glasgow, Scotland, 1879; Wallsend, Newcastle. In September 1918, during the finalSecond Class Air Mechanic, Australian Flying Corps.'