PTE COOKE
Private Thomas Cooke,
Unit:8th Battalion,4th Brigade, 1st Division
Date: 25th July 1916
Place: Pozieres
Conflict: World War 1
PTE Thomas Cooke was born on 5th July 1881 at Kaikoura, New Zealand. He migrated to Australia in 1912.
On 24-25 July 1916 at Pozieres, France, during an attack Cooke was ordered, with his Lewis gun team, to a dangerous part of the line. Heavy enemy fire killed all his companions, but Cooke remained at his post firing his Lewis gun. When assistance finally reached this post Cooke was found dead beside his gun. He was one of eighty-one members of the battalion killed during this action.
He is buried at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
His VC is located at the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand
LT JOYNT
Lieutenant William Donovan Joynt,
Unit: 8th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Division
Date: 23rd August 1918
Place:Herleville Wood, France
Conflict:World War 1
Born on 19th March 1889 at Elsternwick, Victoria.
On 23rd August 1918 at Herleville Wood, near Chuignes, France, during an action Joynt went forward and found a company of the 6th Battalion that was disorganised after losing its officers. He reformed the men and urged them forward but they were again halted by intense fire from Plateau Wood. Joynt, who was then joined by a platoon from his own battalion, decided to seize Plateau Wood. A German post and fifty prisoners were quickly taken. Joynt then led his men along a trench across the plateau, capturing prisoners as they went, to within fifty metres of the machine guns holding up the advance. At one stage twenty enemy advanced towards him with their rifles poised so Joynt covered their leader with a revolver and they surrendered. Finding another trench, Joynt was able to lead his men without casualties into the German position and so force them out of the wood. He returned to his battalion to find that his company commander had been wounded and that he was to assume command. From then until he was wounded in another attack three days later, he was always in the fight as the advance continued.
Joynt was the last surviving VC recipient. He was a foundation and life-long member of Legacy and was one of those instrumental in influencing the RSL to support The Shrine of Remembrance concept which after a 3 ? year battle succeeded in May 1927. He served in WWII as the CO of 3rd Garrison Battalion. He died on 5th May 1986 aged 97 and is buried at Brighton Cemetery, Melbourne.
His VC is privately held.
PTE BEATHAM
PTE Robert Matthew BEATHAM,
Unit: 8th Battalion, 4th Brigade, !st Division
Date:9th August 1918
Place:Rosioeres (near Villers- Bretonneux)
Conflict: World War 1
Born 16th June 1894 at Glassonby, Cumberland, England. While still in his teens he migrated alone to Australia.
On 9th August 1918 at Rosieres, near Villers-Bretonneux France, when the 8th Battalion was held up during an action Beatham, assisted by Lance Corporal Nottingham, rushed forward and bombed and fought the crews of four guns, killing ten and capturing ten others, thus allowing the advance to continue and saving many casualties. On 11 August Beatham, though wounded, rushed another machine gun and bombed and silenced it. In doing so he was riddled with bullets and killed.
He is buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.
His VC medal is lodged with the United Service Club, 183 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane. It sold in 1999 for a then record price for an Australian VC of $178,500
PTE PARTRIDGE
Private Frank John Partridge
Unit:8th Battalion
Date:24th July 1945
Place: Bomis Peninsula, New Guinea
Conflict:World War 11
On 24th July 1945 at Bonis Peninsula, Bougainville (now Papua New Guinea), during an engagement with the enemy, Partridge's section came under particularly heavy fire and he was hit twice, in the left arm and the left thigh. Despite his wounds, and disregarding the heavy fire, he retrieved a Bren gun from a dead gunner and passed it on to another man and told him to give covering fire. He then rushed the enemy bunker, silenced it with a grenade, and killed the only living occupant with his knife. He cleared the dead from the entrance to the bunker and rushed another bunker but loss of blood caused him to halt and call for aid. His platoon moved forward but overwhelming enemy fire caused it to withdraw. His award was the first made to a militiaman.
He died on 23rd March 1964 and is buried in the Macksville Cemetery, New South Wales.