Ribbon for the Victory Medal : Private John Thomas Huckle, 1 Battalion AIF

Ribbon for the Victory Medal. Associated with 6856 Private John Huckle.

John Thomas Huckle, an Indigenous Australian of the Wiradjuri people, was born in Euabalong, New South Wales, in 1893, the son of John and Hanna Huckle. He was living in Euabalong, working as a labourer, when he enlisted in the AIF in October 1916 at the age of 23. Joining the 22nd Reinforcements to the 1st Infantry Battalion, he embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT SS Port Nicholson on 8 November 1916.

Fighting on the Western Front in Belgium, Huckle was reported as missing in action in October 1917. It was later confirmed that he had been killed in action near Passchendaele on 3 October. He was buried on 10 October at 'Jabber Track Sh.28.NE.Sq.J.4.b.4.3'. His identity disc was removed and was the only personal item sent back to his father. In 1920, Huckle was reinterred in Aeroplane Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.

Huckle's British War Medal and Victory Medal ribbon were sold in 1939 (most probably by Huckle's son) to Bede McDonagh. In 2012, Mr McDonagh decided the medal and ribbon should be returned to the Huckle family and, while the name on the medal had been partially filed off, through some assistance was able to return the medal to the great nephew of Private Huckle in 2014.