French Medaille du Merite : Sergeant F J Cahill, 36 Battalion AIF

The ribbon of the French Medaille du Merite is red, white and blue, with a thin stripes of green and red, representing the ribbon of the Croix de Guerre, on either side of the centre white stripe. The obverse of the medal shows a raised French helmet surrounded by leaves. In raised writing around the edge of the medal is 'UNION NATIONALE DES COMBATTANTS' which translates as 'NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF VETERANS'. Underneath the helmet, is a raised horizontal bar with 'UNIS COMME AU FRONT' written with raised lettering. This translates as 'UNITED AT THE FRONT'. On the reverse of the medal a wreath has been raised around the edges. In raised lettering within the wreath is 'M' (for 'Monsieur' or 'Madame') with a space underneath for the recipient's name which in this case has not been inscribed. Below the space is 'A BIEN MERITE / DE / L' U.N.C'. This translates as 'WORTHY OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF VETERANS'.

Frederick Cahill was presented with the French Medaille du Merite when he attended the 50th Anniversary commemoration of the ending of the First World War in 1968. Sergeant Frederick Joseph Cahill was born in Lismore, NSW in 1899. He enlisted for service in the First World War on 17 February 1916 and was called up for service nine days later. Cahill was assigned the regimental number 733 and was allotted to 'C' Company of the newly formed 36 Battalion.

After completing his initial training, Cahill embarked with his unit from Sydney on 13 May. After disembarking at Plymouth on 9 July, he spent the next four months with his battalion in further training for the fighting on the Western Front. Cahill was transferred to the Headquarters of 9 Brigade in November where he took up a position as the Chaplain's batman. 9 Brigade moved to France later that month with the battalions going into the lines over the next month in the Armentieres sector.

In September 1917 Cahill was transferred to 3 Division Headquarters for two months, returning to 9 Brigade Headquarters in November. In May 1918, during the German spring offensive, Cahill was wounded when the Germans shelled the area of Rivery, on the outskirts of Amiens, with mustard gas. By June, he had been transferred to the Norfolk War Hospital in England to recover. Cahill went absent without leave (AWL) on 18 July and did not return until 31 July.

Due to his good record, his charge was dismissed. He went AWL again in late September for three days but again escaped penalty. Cahill returned to France and 9 Brigade Headquarters in October and saw no further action. On 21 January 1919 he was transferred to 35 Battalion. He was promoted to temporary corporal in early April and transferred to 34 Quota after the battalion disbanded. By the end of April, Cahill had moved to Tidworth, England with 34 Quota where he became an instructor.

On 15 May, he was promoted to temporary sergeant and retained that rank for the journey home to Australia. Cahill and the men of 34 Quota left England on 12 June onboard the transport ship Themistocles. On 10 August, Cahill disembarked in Sydney and was discharged from the AIF on 29 September 1919.