Lieut Ben Mudford MM MID
Benjamin Eden Mudford was born in Malmsbury, Vic on 7.12.1893. Enlisted in Brisbane Qld on 24.6.1915 aged 21 years & 6 months. Depart Aust with 31 Bn AIF, 8.11.15. Arrived Suez 13.1.16. Transferred to 5 Div signals at Tel El Kebir 16.3.16. Depart Alexandria on 'Tunisian' 16.6.16. Arrive France 23.6.16. L/Corporal 28.10.16. Corporal 27.4.17. Sergeant 28.4.17. Awarded MILITARY MEDAL 31.10.17 for Gallantry 28/29.9.17 at Polygon Wood, Glencorse Wood & Black Watch Corner. 2/Lt 6.11.17. M.I.D. by Sir D Haig 7.11.17 for Gallantry from 26.2.17 to 20.9.17. Lieut 16.2.18. W.I.A. (Gas) 2.5.18. COMMANDER'S COMMENDATION CARD from Mjr General Talbot Hobbs for Gallantry during ops 8/9.8.18. On UK leave and married August 1919. Depart UK for return to Australia on 'Orontes' 25.10.19. Lived Melbourne & Beulah, Vic and worked as a carpenter until moving to Albury NSW on 1.4.1939 due to his wife (Christina's) health as she had contracted T.B. There were a son (James) and a daughter (Dorothy) of the marriage. Christina died in 1939. WW2... Appointed Lieut in the AMF on 10.10.39 as V80761. Enlisted in AIF as VX108076. Voyage Conducting Officer 22.8.42 on HMT 'P2' ferrying troops to the Middle East from Sydney. Returned to Sydney om 'Mauritania' 11.12.42. Aervice number corrected to VX80835. Spent some time with 12 Garrison Bn at Tocumwal NSW. On to retired list 16.12.43. Mrried Mavis in 1944 and resettled in Albury NSW. Post war Ben developed an area of Albury which he named St James Cresent in memory of his son James who lost his life in WW2. Ben passed away in Albury on 4.10.1984. Ben's son was VX50766 Pte James Burnett Mudford (4 Reserve Motor Transport Coy)who was captured by the Japanese in Malaya and after surviving his time on the Burma Railway died when the Japanese ship 'Rokyu Maru' was sunk off the Phillipines on 12.9.44.
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Submitted 28 July 2017
by Garry Heafield