Victory Medal with MID : Lieutenant J Climpson, 4 Division Signal Company, AIF

Victory Medal with Mentioned in Despatches Oakleaf. Medal impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Joseph Climpson was born at Redfern, Sydney, in May 1894, and as a young man was employed as a printer. He also completed several years of compulsory cadet service, and then joined 16 Signal Troop of the Militia. He enlisted in the AIF immediately after the outbreak of war in August 1914, and presumably due to his previous experience, was allotted to the 1st Divisional Signal Company with the service number 78 (later 78A). He landed at Gallipoli with his unit on 25 April 1915, and was promoted to lance corporal the following day. Climpson served throughout the campaign, and was Mentioned in Despatches (along with a number of his 1 Div Sigs compatriots) for distinguished service in the action at Lone Pine in August. After the evacuation, the AIF was reorganised, and Climpson was transferred to the 4th Divisional Signal Company, with whom he served for the remainder of the war. During 1916, his gallant conduct at Pozières saw him awarded the Military Medal, and by the end of the year, he had been promoted to sergeant. He was awarded a Bar to the MM after the fighting a Bullecourt in April 1917, and having reached the rank of warrant officer, was selected for officer training late in the year. Climpson returned to 4 Div Sigs as a 2nd lieutenant in March 1918, and was almost immediately awarded the Military Cross for maintaining communications during the crucial fighting at Villers Bretonneux in April. Shortly afterwards he was evacuated after being gassed, but soon returned to his unit and was promoted lieutenant in June. After his return to Australia in June 1919, Climpson was discharged from the Army and soon enlisted in the NSW Police Force, with whom he served until 1954. He eventually reached the rank of sergeant 2nd class, and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal. Joseph Climpson died in Cooma, NSW, in January 1973. The citation for the Mention in Despatches which was awarded to Climpson and twelve other members of 1 Div Sigs reads as follows: ‘These N.C.Os and men distinguished themselves by their unflinching devotion to duty and excellence of work under fire in maintaining and repairing telephone lines during the action of Lone Pine from 6th to 9th August.’