Military Medal and two bars : Sapper H E Sloan, 5 Division Supply Company, Australian Engineers, AIF

Military Medal with two bars (Geo V). Medal impressed around edge with recipient's details.

822 Corporal Henry Edwin Sloan, enlisted on 20 June 1914 in 8 Battalion, AIF. He also served in 5 Division Signal Company, Australian Engineers attached to 13 Australian Field Artillery Brigade, AIF. He returned to Australia on 8 October 1918. Sloan was awarded the Military Medal in June 1917 (Gunner), a bar to the Military Medal on 29 September 1917 at Westhoek (Lance Corporal), and a second bar to the Military Medal on 29 August 1918 at Peronne (2nd Corporal). The recommendation for the Military Medal reads, 'This man was one of a party employed today in laying telephone line to a forward position over a big distance, all of which was under continuous heavy shell fire. The line proved very difficult to maintain and was only done by making constant repairs. Gunner SLOAN effected such repairs at least 30 times, going out into the heaviest hostile barrages without hesitation and voluntarily. This was done every time at great personal risk, and notwithstanding the fact that the man had several remarkable escapes, he performed this duty cheerfully from 2 a.m. until midnight, and set a splendid example of courage and devotion to duty and cheerfulness under very adverse conditions.' The recommendation for the bar to the Military Medal reads, 'On the night of the 29th. September 1917, on the occasion of an advance of the Batteries of the 13th. A.F.A. Brigade to a position on the East Side of WESTHOEK Ridge, it became necessary to establish communication between the Batteries as they arrived and Group Head-Quarters. No.822 L/Cpl. H. E. SLOAN, was one of the party under Lieut. G. W. YOUNG. This N.C.O. displayed conspicuous courage and devotion to duty throughout the night in assisting to connect up all the Batteries. The Battery positions were very heavily shelled by enemy 5.9 " and 8", which rendered the operation extremely hazardous. This N.C.O.'s courage and devotion to duty were a fine example to all ranks and he is deserving of special recognition.' Recommendation for the second bar to the Military Medal reads, 'For gallantry and devotion to duty. 2nd Corporal Sloan is a member of No.1 Sub-section of this Company attached to the 13th A.F.A. Brigade. On the 29th August 1918, on the PERONNE front, he, with another linesman, was detailed to lay a telephone line from 13th A.F.A. Brigade Headquarters N.E. of BELLOY EN SANTERRE to the 15th Aust. Infantry Brigade at the Brickworks, VILLERS CARBONNEL. The approaches to the latter position were under direct observation of the enemy and heavily shelled by 5.9 and 4.2 Howitzers during the whole afternoon. He was working on the line under these conditions for 5 hours, and succeeded in establishing and maintaining communication until it was considered impossible to further maintain it, when he ran out another cable along a different route. He was considerably fatigued, having already experienced a heavy period of work and had several narrow escapes from the heavy enemy Artillery fire, but willingly carried out his duties without regard to his personal safety. It was entirely due to his courage, perseverance and devotion to duty that satisfactory communication existed between the Units concerned ". This last recommendation was originally for a Distinguished Conduct Medal but was changed to second bar for the Military Medal.