By the end of the so called “Great War’’ this region’s soldiers had distinguished themselves by their acts of bravery.
According to research by local military historian Gary Lucas, a total of 29 various military honours were awarded to soldiers who volunteered from around the Liverpool district.
Our boys were bestowed with the following honours:
5 Military Cross (MC);
11 Military Medal (MC);
6 Mentioned in Dispatches (MID);
6 Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM);
1 Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
“Alfred Wood, a Gallipoli veteran, was awarded the Military Medal and a Distinguished Conduct Medal at the age of 22 before he was killed in action at Fleurs, France,’’ says Mr Lucas.
“His brother, Hubert Wood, was also awarded the Military Medal.’’
Mr Lucas says that while 31 out of 84 volunteers at Gallipoli lost their lives, back home 57 soldiers also died at camp in Liverpool.
Of these 16 are buried in Liverpool cemetery and 41 in Pioneers Park.
No fewer than 28 sets of brothers volunteered for the war effort, and of those 15 local families lost a son.
The brothers Bowder, John, 23, and Thomas, 25, from the Crossroads, were both killed in action on the western front just three months apart.
Mr Lucas says that at the end of the war of the 372 who returned home, only 99 received medals.
“But the then Nepean Shire, which was part of Liverpool, donated memorial stones to the soldiers,’’ he says.
“It is estimated that 15 of these memorial stones were installed at various locations determined by the families of each of the soldiers.
“Only three are known to still exist,’’ he says.
