Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack by our trops he took command of a Lewis gun detachment when the No. 1 became a casualty and carrying on with great determination to the final objective through the protective barrage, he inflicted heavy losses on the retreating enemy. He remained in charge during the final consolidation, inspiring his men by his fearlessness and gallant behaviour under very heavy shell and machine gun fire.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 4 March 1919

After passing almost unscathed through some of the most thrilling episodes of the war, with his outstanding bravery in all  circumstances specially mentioned in despatches, and with one of the greatest honors of the war, the Distinguished Conduct Mledal, bestowed upon him, Corporal Robert Joseph Shippick was put out of action in France just a month prior to the signing of the armistice. Only last week the "Commonwealth Gazette" promulgated the order published in the "London Gazette" announcing the award of the D.C.M. to Shippick. On Monday his mother received a cablegram notifying that her son was wounded on October 11, and had been conveyed to the Colchester Hospital, England, suffering from wounds in the right arm and left leg. Whether they were serious or 
otherwise was not stated. "Joe" Shippick was one of the best-known boys in Burnley. Mates of not so many years ago will remember that in after school hours his prowess showed out in a special direction. He was the champion bird-nester of the Survey Paddock, and there wasn't a tree from here to Glen Iris, that he he couldn't climb. Joe Shippick's pluck and pertinacity got him to the top in those days, just as, the same indomitable at tributes have enabled him to look
grim death in the face many times in the war and still walk off smiling.
Shippick was one of the big band of Burnley boys who practically joined up, camped out and went away to gether when the war was looking its blackest in the first days of 1915. He enlisted on January 26, leaving here on May 8, had his first big experience of war before he reached Gallipoli. His transport, the Southland, was torpedoed. Shippick got through and went to the Peninsula. A big shell came over to near his dug-out one night and inflicted much damage, but
Shippick got off with a slight shock. He was treated in the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital and soon picked up again, serving till the evacuation. On to France, where his work was such that it attracted the especial attention of his commanding officers and caused General Birdwood to refer to him in his despatches and to "express my ap preciation of the gallant conduct of Corporal R. J. Shippick." By special order it was published in the "London Gazette." Soon afterwards Corporal Shippick got a short furlough to England, and later he was selected for special training at Sutton Veny camp,
with a view to qualifying for officer, but Fate, in this respect, was against him. The Germans made their break through of the British, and to stem the onrush every available soldier in England was hurried over the Channel immediately. Men like Shippick saved the Empire. The special order published in the "Gazette" announcing that
the D.C.M. had been awarded to Shippick, referred to "the  conspicuous services rendered by him." Subsequently Joe got ten days' leave in Paris, but afterwards it was the front line again for him. There he got the knock that sent him out-as he was driving the
Germans home. Such is our short biography of one of Richmond's. most notable heroes. He is the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Shippick, of 192 Stawell-street, Burnley, and is 29 years of age.. He went to school at Burnley and St. Ignatius' schools, played cricket and football with the Burnley clubs, and for several years prior to enlistment was an employee of the Richmond City Council.