A very rare Great War 1918 ‘Palestine Operations’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Trooper G. A. Hill, 12th Australian Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, a veteran of the Gallipoli campaign, whose regiment saw action in several notable battles in the Palestine campaign including the charge at Beersheba on 31 October 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (620 Tpr: G. A. Hill. 12/Aust: L.H.R.); 1914-15 Star (620 Pte G. A. Hill. 12/L.H. Rgt. A.I.F.); British War Medal 1914-20 (620 A/Sjt. G. A. Hill. 12 L H Rgt. A.I.F.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (620 A-Sgt G. A. Hill. 12 L.H.R. A.I.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45 (Q185868 G. A. Hill); Australia Service Medal (Q185868 G. A. Hill) good very fine and better (7) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Warwick Cary.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 12 December 1919 ‘For distinguished service in connection with Military Operations in Egypt and Palestine’, citation published 14 April 1920:
‘For gallantry and devotion to duty during operations in May 1918. He carried despatches repeatedly across fire-swept ground, and his daring in watching the valuable movements of the enemy resulted in valuable information. At Mussalaba also his night scouting was of the greatest value. His courage and coolness in action has always been conspicuous.’

The original recommendation states:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations East of the Jordan near Black Hill on 4 May 1918. He volunteered to take an urgent despatch a distance of two miles of which one mile he had to proceed under heavy fire. On the same day he was selected to carry despatches which he carried out for four hours being under heavy fire most of the time. His courageous conduct was most exemplary.’

Geoffrey Austin Hill was born in 1896 at Warren, New South Wales. A station overseer by occupation, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 8 June 1915, having already served one year as a King’s School Cadet. Embarked for active service abroad on 11 June 1915 with the 12th Light Horse Regiment, he was landed at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli on 29 August 1915 and transferred to D Squadron, 6th Light Horse, attached to the 1st Australian Division, occupying the right flank of the ANZAC line. Following his unit’s withdrawal from the peninsula later in the year, he was disembarked at Alexandria on 25 December 1915 and, rejoining the 12th Light Horse in February, he would be frequently hospitalised over the next year due to an arm injury (sustained in the field) and an abscess.

Discharged from hospital on 1 May 1917, Hill joined the 4th Light Horse Training Regiment before taken back on the strength of the 12th Light Horse, now assigned to the 4th Light Horse Brigade in Palestine, on the 22 September 1917, and was therefore present with the regiment at the time of their celebrated charge to take Beersheba on 31 October 1917. On this occasion, late in the afternoon, together with the 4th Light Horse Regiment, they advanced over open ground in a pure cavalry charge, getting under the Ottoman guns and capturing the town. Over 700 Ottoman soldiers were captured and, more significantly for the Australians, the vital water wells were secured. In achieving this, the 12th lost 24 men killed and 15 wounded. Frequently engaged in actions during the Palestine campaign in late 1917, including the Battle of Hareira and Sheria on 7 November and the drive to capture Jerusalem in December, they also joined an attack on Es Salt in April 1918.

Hill’s D.C.M., a unique award to the 12th Australian Light Horse for Palestine, was awarded for his despatch and reconnaissance work in May 1918 near Musallaba during the Regiment’s retreat across the Jordan towards Jericho. It was also here, in temperatures as high as 50° C and with their camp infested with snakes, spiders, flies and scorpions that the men of the 12th were required to construct defences around Musallaba throughout May.

Remaining in Jordan and Syria, the 12th Light Horse saw frequent clashes with German and Ottoman forces in September and October 1918, including the notable Battle of Meggido, 19 to 25 September 1918 and the Capture of Damascus, 1 October 1918, before the Armistice of Mudros ended the fighting on 30 October. Their work in the region was not finished however, since, following the war, they were required to remain in the Middle East for a number of months, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel P. Chambers, and were used to suppress the 1919 Egyptian Uprising.

Hill finally embarked for his return to Australia with his regiment on 22 July 1919 and was discharged on 31 October 1919 at Sydney, N.S.W. After the renewal of hostilities, on 6 October 1939 he enlisted once more in the Australian Army and served at Headquarters 1st District Command. Commissioned Lieutenant, he served with the 1st Labour Company and was posted to the 49th Battalion on 25 February 1941, his appointment being terminated on 24 November 1942. He died in 1970 in Queensland.

Sold with an original Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence letter dated 1 April 1920, sent to the recipient’s father, forwarding the London Gazette extract relating to the recipient’s conspicuous services rendered.

Note: This lot is available for viewing in Swanbourne, Western Australia, by appointment with our Australasian representative, John Burridge.