The AIF Project

'Work on 13 May 1917.'
Recommendation date: 17 May 1917

'On the morning of 15th May, 1917, the 29th Battery was subjected to very heavy shell fire by 5.9 shells. Under the orders of the Battery Commander all ranks except himself and these four men had evacuated the position, the Battery Commander and these four men remaining in the close vicinity of the Battery. During the bombardment a number of direct hits were made on the gun pit setting fire to three of them and causing the ammunition in the pit to commence to explode. These four men [McKENZIE, 19852 G.J. IRVING, 19725 H.V. TOZER, and 19730 W.E. STARLING], with Major CHURCHES at once went in to these pits and put out the fires with wet bags. These was done although salvoe of 5.9 were at the time bursting on the Battery position and the ammunition in the pits was also exploding, 400 rounds exploding before the fires were extinguished. By the action of Major CHURCHES and these four men two guns and about 300 rounds of ammunition were undoubtedly saved.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189
Date: 8 November 1917