'East of YPRES at POLYGON WOOD on the morning of 28th September a counter-attack was made on our right front. Telephonic communications both forward and laterally were interrupted. This man acted a runner and showed the greatest coolness and courage. He kept me continually in touch with the front line and the Battalion on our flank, moving through the hostile barrage with utter disregard for his own personal safety. When daylight came he continued to carry on although exposed to enemy's view, and kept me in constant communication. During the whole operation he was always one of the first to volunteer for any dangerous mission, and his devotion to duty set a very fine example and is worthy of special recognition.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918

Regimental number	718
Place of birth	South Shield, England
School	Bingham Methodist Church School, Belfast, Ireland
Age on arrival in Australia	25
Religion	Presbyterian
Occupation	Iron worker
Address	55 Brown Street, Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	29
Next of kin	Father, Frank May, 55 Brown Street, Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales
Enlistment date	11 July 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	30th Battalion, C Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/47/1
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 9 November 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	30th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)	Military Medal Recommendation date: 2 October 1917
Fate	Killed in Action 12 October 1917
Place of death or wounding	Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium
Age at death	31
Age at death from cemetery records	31
Place of burial	Dochy Farm New British Cemetery (Plot III, Row B, Grave No. 16), Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial	117
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records	Parents: Frank and Sarah MAY, 192 Curzon Street, Netherfield, Notts, England. Native of South Shields, England
Medals	Military Medal 'East of YPRES at POLYGON WOOD on the morning of 28th September a counter-attack was made on our right front. Telephonic communications both forward and laterally were interrupted. This man acted a runner and showed the greatest coolness and courage. He kept me continually in touch with the front line and the Battalion on our flank, moving through the hostile barrage with utter disregard for his own personal safety. When daylight came he continued to carry on although exposed to enemy's view, and kept me in constant communication. During the whole operation he was always one of the first to volunteer for any dangerous mission, and his devotion to duty set a very fine example and is worthy of special recognition.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: 7 March 1918
Family/military connections	SGT, F May 945 17Bn,BR, KIA Bullecourt 15 March 1917. PTE, S May 2931 31Bn, BR

Alexander MAY