Those who served (WW1)

Torquay and District Historical Society have recorded the list of diggers of the Torquay and district who served overseas with the Australian Infantry Forces (AIF) during World War One 1914-1918. This district includes Torquay, Bellbrae, Paraparap, Freshwater Creek, Mount Duneed and Connewarre. Eighty –eight men served; twenty three were killed in action and thirty were wounded, some more than once. One was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and seven were awarded the Military Medal.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was established in 1854 by Queen Victoria as a decoration for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranking below the Victoria Cross.

3623 Pte Edward Cecil Penny, Pte 58 Battalion. RTA

The Military Medal (MM) established in March 1916 (and applied retrospectively to 1914) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army, other services and Commonwealth countries below commissioned rank for bravery in battle on land. MM ‘and bar’ indicates that the award was bestowed more than once.

368 Sgt John Joseph Cantwell 8th Batt. KIA 1917
2808 LCpl James William Coots 14th Field Ambulance. RTA
4028 Pte George Harold Donohue 39th Batt. WIA and RTA
3536 Pte Patrick Thomas Feehan 29th Batt. RTA
28744 Gunner Jock McMullen Noble 25th Field Artillery Brigade. RTA
3640 Cpl Victor Franklyn Smith MM & Bar 58 Batt. RTA
2733 Pte John Alexander Wilson 2nd Pioneer Batt. RTA

Further resources (Available from the TDHS) 
The Story of the Diggers of Torquay and District who Served Overseas During the First World War.
Baulch, C. (2018). Together they served 1914-1918. Men & women who enlisted form the Surf Coast Shire. TMWW: Torquay.