Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1917 ‘Passchendaele’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private G. H. Trew, 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (3958 Pte. G. H. Trew. 2Aust: Inf:); British War Medal 1914-20 (3958 Pte. G. H. Trew. 2Bn. A.I.F.) ‘3’ officially corrected; War Medal 1939-45 (N65913 G. H. Trew); Australia Service Medal (N65913 G. H. Trew), Second War Medals officially impressed, mounted for display, generally very fine (4) £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 23 February 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘On 6th November 1917 Pte. Trew acted as Company runner and when all other communications failed he successfully delivered messages to Battalion Headquarters on several occasions. The delivery of these messages necessitated his passing through two distinct enemy barrages of great intensity. He volunteered for the same duty later in the day but was ordered to desist.’

G. H. Trew was born in Trafalgar, Victoria, Australia, in 1893. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Holdsworthy, New South Wales on 25 August 1915. Trew embarked for France in H.M.A.T. Pennsylvania, 7 January 1916, and arrived at Marseilles 4 April 1916. He served with the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, and it would appear that he had an initial aversion to orders - being charged and found guilty of ‘Disobeying Orders’ or ‘Insolence to an N.C.O.’ on six occasions between 28 April 1916 - 23 March 1917. Trew was subject to a Field General Court Martial after being charged with ‘When in lawful custody - escaping.’ He was found guilty and sentenced to two months imprisonment, reduced to one month.

Despite the above, Trew served with 2nd Battalion as part of the 1st Australian Brigade, 1st Australian Division at Passchendaele. During the latter the Battalion served on the front line, 5 - 10 November 1917. Trew was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations on 6 November, when the Battalion was in support of the Canadian Corps in an attack on a German position. The 2nd Battalion’s War Diary records that they drew fire, with the front line and support trenches being heavily shelled. The trench held by the support Company was almost obliterated, and they suffered 40 casualties, shell fire accounting for nearly all those killed or wounded. In total the Battalion suffered 33 other ranks killed, 5 officers and 64 other ranks wounded and 13 other ranks missing.

Trew received a gun shot wound to his left arm, 29 June 1918. He returned to Australia in September 1919, and was discharged 25 October of the same year. Trew re-engaged for service during the Second War at Coogee, New South Wales, in January 1940. Having advanced to Sergeant, he was discharged 2 May 1945.