Thomas Leslie (Jack) AXFORD VC, MM

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AXFORD, Thomas Leslie

Service Numbers:	3399, W18283
Enlisted:	9 August 1915, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Last Rank:	Sergeant
Last Unit:	Headquarters Staff
Born:	Carrieton, South Australia, 18 June 1894
Home Town:	Coolgardie, Coolgardie, Western Australia
Schooling:	Coolgardie Public School
Occupation:	Clerk
Died:	Natural causes, Perth, Western Australia, 11 October 1983, aged 89 years
Cemetery:	Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia MC Section A 0079
Memorials:	Boulder Kalgoorlie Amateur Swimming Club Roll of Honour, Boulder Kalgoorlie Roll of Honor, Canberra John Hamilton VC Pictorial Honour Roll, East Perth Department of the Minister for Mines Roll of Honour, Kalgoorlie Boulder 84th Infantry Goldfields Regiment Roll of Honour, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, Mount Hawthorn War Memorial, North Bondi War Memorial, Winchelsea WWI Memorial

World War 1 Service

9 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3399, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
1 Nov 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3399, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Benalla, Fremantle
1 Nov 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3399, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: ''
11 Aug 1916:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3399, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Battle for Pozières , Shell shock
10 Aug 1917:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3399, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Third Ypres, Shell wound (left knee)
14 Feb 1918:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
4 Jul 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3399, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory, Awarded the Victoria Cross for actions near Vaire Wood and Hamel Wood.
14 Jul 1918:	Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)

World War 2 Service

25 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Perth, WA
25 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Sergeant, W18283, Perth, Western Australia
14 Apr 1947:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sergeant, W18283, Headquarters Staff

Victoria Cross Recommendation

It is recommended for the very highest distinction for his very conspicuous gallantry and initiative during the operations against VAIRE and HAMEL Woods, East of CORBIE, on the morning of the 4th July 1918.
When the barrage lifted and the Infantry advance commenced, the platoon of which AXFORD is a member was able to reach the first enemy defences through gaps which had been cut in the wires. The adjoining platoon got delayed in un-cut barbed wire. This delay enabled the enemy machine guns to get into action, and enabled them to inflict a number of casualties among the men struggling through the wires including the Company Commander who was killed. AXFORD, with great initiative and magnificent courage at once dashed to the flank, threw his bombs amongst the machine gun crews; followed up his bombs by jumping into the trench, and charging with his bayonet. Unaided he killed ten of the enemy and took 6 prisoners; he threw the machine guns over the parapet, and called out to come one. He then rejoined his own platoon, and fought with it during the remainder of the operations. Prior to the incidents above mentioned he had assisted in the laying out of the tapes for the jumping off position, which was within 100 yards of the enemy. When the tapes were laid he remained out as a special patrol to ensure that the enemy did not discover any unusual movement on our side. His initiative and gallantry undoubtedly saved many casualties, and most materially assisted towards the complete success of his Company in the task assigned to it.

Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

Axford, Thomas Leslie (Jack) (1894–1983)
by P. L. Edgar

Thomas Leslie (Jack) Axford, soldier, labourer and clerk, was born on 18 June 1894 at Carrieton, South Australia, son of Walter Richard Axford, an auctioneer from Tasmania, and his South Australian-born wife Margaret Ann, née McQuillan. The family moved to Coolgardie, Western Australia, when he was 2. Educated at the local state school, he worked as a labourer for the Boulder City Brewery Co. Ltd. On 19 July 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. Five ft 7¼ ins (171 cm) tall, with grey eyes, black hair and a dark complexion, he gave his religious denomination as Catholic. He arrived in the Middle East too late to serve at Gallipoli and in March 1916 joined the 16th Battalion at Tel el Kebir, Egypt.

Reaching France in June 1916, the battalion attacked towards Mouquet Farm, near Pozières, on 9 August. Axford was evacuated with shell-shock on the 11th, but he quickly rejoined his unit. A year later, on 10 August 1917, he suffered a shrapnel wound to his left knee at Gapaard Farm, Belgium. After treatment in hospital in England, he returned to his unit in January 1918 and next month was promoted to lance corporal. In March-April the 16th Battalion, as part of the 4th Brigade, stopped the German offensive at Hébuterne, France. Axford was awarded the Military Medal in May.

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