Victory Medal : Private E Diaper, Leinster Regiment

Victory Medal. Impressed around the edge with recipient's details.

1004 Private Edward J Diaper, the son of Simon and Harriet Diaper of Upper Woodford, Salisbury, served with A Company, 6 Infantry Battalion, The Prince of Wale's Leinster Regiment. The battalion, raised in Dublin in August 1914, was attached to the 29th Brigade, 10th Irish Division. After training, the battalion embarked at Liverpool on 9 July 1915 on board RMS Mauretania, and sailed to Gallipoli via Mudros.

Diaper landed at Anzac Cove with his battalion at 9pm on 5 August 1915 to take part in the Allied August offensive. The battalion was initially in reserve on the south side of Shrapnel Gully. On 7 August the battalion moved towards Russell's Top and joined 1st Australian Division. On 9 August the battalion was attached to the New Zealand Brigade and moved north to Rhododendron Ridge where they encountered heavy shell fire, resulting in 12 deaths and 35 wounded.

On 10 August the battalion encountered a fierce Turkish counter-attack at day-break. A Company held the line with D Company at the foot of the ridge, backed by B and C Companies. Eye witness accounts record that a New Zealander running down the hill yelled 'fix your bayonets boys, they're coming!'. They engaged the Turks in a series of bayonet charges and hand to hand combat which lasted into the night. Diaper was killed during this assault. Aged 19, his body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated at the Helles Memorial.