Rolfe Valentine Irwin ORMSBY MM

ORMSBY, Rolfe Valentine Irwin

    Service Number: 12036
    Enlisted: 14 February 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW
    Last Rank: Lance Corporal
    Last Unit: 9th Field Ambulance
    Born: Molong, New South Wales, Australia, 1890
    Home Town: Woollahra, Woollahra, New South Wales
    Schooling: Not yet discovered
    Occupation: Commercial Traveller
    Memorials:
    Show Relationships

    World War 1 Service

    14 Feb 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 12036, 9th Field Ambulance, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW
    11 May 1916: Involvement Private, 12036, 9th Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: ''
    11 May 1916: Embarked Private, 12036, 9th Field Ambulance, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney
    23 Oct 1917: Honoured Military Medal, Between 11th and 13th October, 1917, near Passchendaele, during operations, this man was in charge of a squad of stretcher bearers working from an Advanced regimental Aid Post and carried out his duties excellently despite the severity of the weather and the heavy enemy shelling. When very large numbers of stretcher bearers were incapacitated, Lance Corporal Ormsby was indefatigable and set a splendid example of energy, cheerfulness and devotion to duty which inspired all his comrades at a time when all were fatigued. Several stretcher squads were blown up by the heavy enemy shelling on the track along which his squad were working, and shells were falling all around continually, but this N.C.O. never hesitated and was always ready to return for a further case. London Gazette on 4 February 1918, page 1619, position 60. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 June 1918, page 1393 , position 158
    19 Oct 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 12036, 9th Field Ambulance, Discharged at the 2nd Military District as medically unfit

    Help us honour Rolfe Valentine Irwin Ormsby's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

    Biography contributed by Carol Foster

    Son of Charles Irwin Ormsby and Louise Harriet (Louie) Ormsby of Woollahra NSW.

    Brother of Lyster Charles Irwin Ormsby who returned to Australia on 5 July 1918 having served with the 2nd Battalion

    Commenced return to Australia on 4 July 1919 aboard HT Norman disembarking on 20 August 1919

    Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

    During 1926c Rolfe married Katherine Tower Foott in Woollahra, NSW

    Links and Documents