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Albert Victor PETHERICK (Bert)

Military Medal

Recommendation:- ‘On 4th October 1917, East of Ypres, he displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. This man led an attack against hostile machine gun, which was holding up part of our advance. He, himself, shot four of the crew and put the gun out of action. In this and other ways he showed power of leadership unusual in a Private, and succeeded in allowing our advance to proceed.'
Brig General McNicol, Commanding 10th Brigade Infantry.

Like many Bendigo men, Albert (Bert) Petherick would enlist when the opportunity to join a Bendigo Battalion (the 38th Battalion) became available. Bert was 29 years of age, married to Mary and came from a family of butchers associated with Kangaroo Flat. Bert was a former player and secretary of the Kangaroo Flat Football Club before enlisting. 

He would enlist at the Bendigo Town Hall recruiting depot in mid April, however, he would not finalise enlistment till two months later in June when he enters the training camp at Castlemaine.

Whilst in training and prior to embarking in late September, Bert would receive word of the death of his sister Doris (age 21) in May and of his uncle Ted, killed in action in France in August 1916.    

Bert would have his brave deeds recognised for his action taken at Broodseinde Ridge on October 4, part of ongoing terrible fighting that took place near Ypres, on Flanders fields in late 1917. He would be wounded (GSW) just eight days later on October 12 and be out of action for two months. He would also be treated for ‘Trench fever’, which was usually recorded as ‘NYD’ (Not Yet Diagnosed)

 Despite, being awarded the Military Medal, there would be limited coverage of Bert in the local papers with the exception of two letters sent to parents in Bendigo who had sons killed in fighting. The parents of Jack Forrest of Howard Place, and Carl Harder from Kangaroo Flat would receive heart-felt letters from Bert describing how their son was killed (both instantly which was the usual message delivered to grieving parents) and of their son’s appropriate burials. One of these letters appeared in the Bendigo Advertiser on May 17, 1917 - KILLED IN ACTION - PRIVATE JACK FORREST.                          'Mr and Mrs Forrest, of Howard Place, whose son, Private Jack Forrest, was killed in action on the 11th March last, have received the following letter from Prívate A. V. Petherick. of the 60th Battalion:—

''Dear Mr. and Mrs Forrest and family: —it is with the deepest and most heartfelt sympathy that I have to write and inform you that your son Jack was killed today by a shell explosion. Poor Jack—he knew no pain, for he died instantly, his officer, Mr. Power, being wounded at the same time. Although not in the same company, I and Roy Thurlow happened to be near at the time. Roy would have written but for having to go away on duty. You ran rest contented with the fact that Jack did his duty like a man and a soldier, and that he was most popular with both officers and men who knew him. He was buried in a little cemetery very close by, by the chaplain and a few friends, and as I am likely to be close by for a while. I shall see that his grave is marked with a cross like those of all the other boys. Again extending our deep sympathy from Roy and all the boys, and myself.—I remain. Prívate A, V. Petherick. 2469 (C Coy. 60th Battalion Abroad.)[1]

Bert would be promoted to Lance Corporal in June 1918 and serve out the remaining time in the field as the 38th Battalion pushed the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line fortress.

He would return home in July 1918, and take up a Soldier Settlement farm (600 acres) in the marginal land of the Mallee near Sea Lake in March 1920.

SERVICE DETAILS:  

Regimental No. 2469

Place of birth: Bendigo

Religion: Presbyterian

Occupation: Butcher

Address: 119 Forest Street, Bendigo

Marital status: Married

Age at enlistment: 29

Next of kin: Wife, Mrs Mary Caroline Petherick

Enlistment date: 12 June 1916

Unit name: 38th Battalion, 60th Battalion

AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/77/3

Embarked: HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916

Final Rank: Lance Corporal

Fate: Returned July 18, 1919

Died: Unknown, Buried, Chinkapook Cemetery, near Swan Hill.

Medal Source: Commonwealth Gazette

27 June 1918 on page 1391 at position 24

On 4th October 1917, East of Ypres became known as the battle of Broodseinde ridge.

According to 38th Battalion’s official history, on October 4:-                 ‘the 38th Battalion followed close upon the heels of the 37th Battalion, and all obstacles were speedily overcome. On the left practically the only opposition came from a single machine gun post, which was quickly subdued by our men in conjunction with the New Zealanders. In the centre a Machine Gun post at Israel House gave trouble for a time, but it in turn received its quietus. The concrete pill-boxes about Judah House and Springfield Farm caused a little anxiety and delay. The capture of these strong posts yielded several machine guns and about 150 prisoners In almost every case the opposition was overcome by working around to the rear of the obstacle and throwing in a "P" bomb or Mills grenade as an inducement to the occupants to come up and "Kamarade "

The total personnel engaged was approximately 650, so that the percentage of casualties, which works out at 29 can be regarded as low, whereas the experience gained by all ranks, together with the amount of ground won from, and damage inflicted on the enemy was considerable, so great, in fact, that, although casualties are inevitable even though regrettable, the balance of profit was much to the Battalion's credit. Thirteen Military Medals were won by the Battalion during the operation.’[2]

[1] Bendigo Advertiser on May 17, 1917. Page 4 KILLED IN ACTION.

[2] The History of the 38th, Eric Fairey Cambridge Press,  1920. P33-34