Studio group portrait including Lieutenant (Lt) Abel Richmond Sheath, MC, 18th Battalion, of ...

Studio group portrait including Lieutenant (Lt) Abel Richmond Sheath, MC, 18th Battalion, of Haberfield, NSW, sitting left. The two other Australian officers and the two Indian Army officers have not been identified. Sheath was an accountant prior to enlisting in January 1916. He embarked as a 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) with the 11th Reinforcements from Sydney on board HMAT Nestor (A71) on 9 April 1916. 2nd Lt Sheath arrived in France for service on the Western Front on 2 December 1916 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 20 December. Lt Sheath was awarded the Military Cross on 25 July 1918. The Commonwealth Gazette entry reads: : "...Prior to the attack this officer was wounded ...but remained at duty....he took command of the great part of two companies and rushed the enemy's position.... The final objective was gained, consolidated and held during counter attacks through his cool bearing and utter disregard of danger." On 8 August 1918, near Villers Bretonneux, France, Lt Sheath was wounded in action. While making his own way to medical treatment, he stopped to assist a wounded soldier and was killed by an enemy sniper. He was 28 years of age.