Regimental number | 3483 |
Date of birth | |
Place of birth | Cooktown, Cape York, Queensland |
Religion | Methodist |
Occupation | Labourer |
Address | Harcourt Street, Teneriffe, Brisbane, Queensland |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 21 |
Next of kin | Father, R Madge, West End, Townsville, Queensland |
Enlistment date | |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 15th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/32/2 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 15th Battalion |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Richard (Englishman) and Ella (Indigenous) MADGE |
Medals |
Military Medal 'These men [MADGE and 4580 Sydney MAY] are recommended for conspicuous bravery while acting as messenger during operations north west of POZIERES from 5th to 11th August, 1916. These men were continually moving to and from Company and Battalion Headquarters under intense H.E. artillery barrage. The telephone lines were being continually broken, and the only method of communication was then by messenger. They showed an utter disregard of their own safety, and an admirable contempt for danger, and it was entirely owing to their self-sacrifice that the operations were so well supported by our own artillery and that Battalion and Brigade Headquarters were so closely in touch with progress of operations. Our losses in messengers were very heavy. There were several instances of these messengers being blown up by H.E. shells exploding near them, and some of them were rendered semi unconscious from shell shock, but after a short rest returned to their dangerous work.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62 Date: |
Family/military connections | First Indigenous soldier to be awarded the Military Medal in the First World War. |
Other details | Re-enlisted in the Second World War, 17 June 1940, as QX1836 Pte Maitland Madge and served in the 2/26th Bn, 8th Division. Taken prisoner at Singapore and sent to work on the Thai-Burma railway. Died of dysentery and malaria after returning to Singapore. |
Date of death | |
Place of burial | Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore |