Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Robert SKILBECK (Range)

Military Medal

Recommendation:-

‘At POZIERES on 25th July (1916) was a member of a Lewis Gun team and at great personal risk beat the enemy off in a counter-attack. On one occasion he was knocked over and his gun damaged by the explosion of a shell, he obtained another gun and continued using it with great effect until he was badly wounded.’

Recommendation G.O.C 2nd Infantry Brigade & O.C 5th battalion. August 2, 1916

PRESENTATION OF MILITARY MEDAL- A BENDIGO FUNCTION.      Standing to attention and deeply stirred, Private J. R. Skilbeck was at the Miners' Charity Carnival in the Upper Reserve, Bendigo, on Saturday, presented with the Military Medal he had won for gallant conduct at the battle of Pozieres. The incident will be memorable in the annals of Bendigo, as it was the first presentation in the city of any war distinction. The presentation was made by the mayor (Cr. Abbott) in front of the grandstand, which was crowded. The mayor stated it was his very pleasant duty to present to the hero the medal that had been awarded to him for distinguished gallantry and particular resource on a very memorable occasion. The presentation of military medals, which were only awarded under special conditions, was nearly always performed by the Governor General as the representative of the King, and therefore it was an extreme honor that had fallen on him to be entrusted with the duty.

He would narrate what Private Skilbeck had done in connection with the war, but before doing so he remarked that the miners were the first to volunteer for the war. Private Skilbeck was also amongst the first to volunteer. On the 9th September, 1914, Private Skilbeck enlisted, and was one of the first of the Australian contingent to arrive at the scene of action. He was in Egypt whilst they were waiting for the attack of the Turks on the Suez Canal. Afterwards the attack on the Dardanelles was organised, and it was the Australians who had won for themselves un-dying fame, practically emerging from a position of an absolute non-military nation as far as Australia was concerned. This had brought Australia right into the forefront as military fighters. The landing of Gallipoli would, the mayor stated, go down right through the ages.                                                           Again referring to Pte. Skilbeck, the mayor said that he had served at Cape Helles, Lone Pine, and was then invalided to England. He then rejoined his unit in Egypt, and arrived in France with the First Australian Division. He went on to Pozieres, where he was wounded, and was awarded the Military Medal. Subsequently he was invalided to England, but returned again to France, where he was wounded whilst taking part in a raid on the German trenches. He was then invalided home, and arrived in Australia at the end of October, 1917. The Military Medal was gained by Pte. Skilbeck for brave deeds and resourcefulness displayed on the morning of 25th July, 1916. He ""hopped"" the parapet with comrades who were cut off and stopped, and although wounded he kept up machine gun fire for over an hour until reinforcements arrived, and enabled a further advance. (Applause.) Pte. Skilbeck went forward with the reinforcements, and was using his machine gun in another position when, being overcome through loss of blood from the wounds, he lost consciousness, and was then conveyed to the rear by an ambulance. The mayoress (Mrs. Abbott) then pinned the decoration on the soldier's left breast, whilst the massed band played patriotic airs. Three hearty cheers were then given for the soldier…………….                                                           In responding, Pte. Skilbeck thanked everybody for their congratulations. He stated he had only done what he thought was his duty, and what every other single man in Australia should do. His act was only what was happening every half-hour over there, and everybody would get medals only they were not noticed.[1]

John Skilbeck had a colourful military career. He faced a number of serious discipline charges and was wounded on three occasions. He survived Anzac Cove and Lone Pine. His early return to Australia is recorded as ‘needing change’.

SERVICE DETAILS:

Regimental No. 1011
Place of birth: Bendigo Victoria
Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Farm hand
Address: Branxholm, Tasmania
Marital status: Single
Age at enlistment: 24
Next of kin: Father, Jas Skilbeck, Branxholm, Tasmania
Enlistment date: 10 September 1914
Unit name: 5th Battalion, C Company
Embarked: Transport A3 Orvieto on 21 October 1914
Final Rank: Private
Fate: Returned to Australia 21 July 1917                                         Medal Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 14 December 1916 on page 3381 at position 61

Photo- Bendigoian February 21, 1918. P. 18

At POZIERES on 25th July

Pozieres, a small village in the Somme valley in France, was the scene of bitter and costly fighting for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions in mid 1916. The Australian divisions wrested a small, devastated area from the enemy, but at a staggering cost. Over 42 days the Australians made as many as 19 attacks against the German positions. The final casualties totalled an appalling 23,000 men killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. The losses sustained throughout that exhausting period were almost unsustainable for a volunteer army. The village was captured initially by the 1st Division on 23 July 1916. The division clung to its gains despite almost continuous artillery fire and repeated German counter-attacks but suffered heavily. By the time it was relieved on 27 July it had suffered 5,285 casualties.[2]

[1] Bendigoian January 31, 1918. P. 18

[2] Australian War Memorial website https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84338