| Place | Oceans: Indian Ocean, Cocos Keeling Islands |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/10633.003 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Medal |
| Physical description | Bronze |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1920 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Victory Medal : Able Seaman H T Bird, Royal Australian Navy
Description
Victory Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
History / Summary
2062 Able Seaman Henry Thomas Bird was born in Bristol, England on 5 October 1891. He enlisted with the RAN on 20 August 1912 for seven years and was one many British servicemen in the RAN. Bird's first ship was HMAS Encounter which he joined on 24 November 1912.
He returned to England to become part of the initial crew of the newly commissioned HMAS Sydney on 1 July 1913. He was promoted to Able Seaman on 21 October 1914 and on the 9 November Bird and the Sydney engaged the German raider SMS Emden. Sydney was hit early by the long-ranging 10.5 cm guns of Emden, which resulted in four dead and twelve wounded. However, the superior firepower of the Australian cruiser's broadside soon told and Emden was left 'beached and done for' on North Keeling Island.
Bird served with the Sydney until May 1915 when he was discharged from the RAN at the end of June 1915 because of injuries sustained from lifting heavy cartridges.