Inscribed on the edge

6223 A.SGT. A. T. Jorgensen. 23-BN A.I.F.

his name appears on the Wayville Honour Roll, Unley, S.A.

"The 23rd Battalion was raised in Victoria in March 1915 as the third battalion of the 6th Brigade. After initial training, it left Australia in March and arrived in Egypt, where it would complete its advanced training, in June.

As part of the 2nd Australian Division, the 6th Brigade landed at ANZAC Cove in early September. The 23rd Battalion was soon manning one of the most trying parts of the Anzac front line - Lone Pine. The fighting here was so dangerous and exhausting that battalions were relieved every day. The 23rd manned Lone Pine, alternating with the 24th Battalion, until they left Gallipoli in December 1915.

The battalion was next "in the line" on 10 April 1916, when it occupied forward trenches of the Armentieres sector in northern France. This relatively gentle introduction to the Western Front was followed in July by the horrific battles of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, after which it was estimated that the Battalion lost almost 90 per cent of its original members.

After manning the front line throughout the bleak winter of 1916-17, the battalion's next trial came at the second battle of Bullecourt in May. After the failure of the first attempt to capture this town, by troops of the 4th Australian Division, this new attack was heavily rehearsed. The 23rd Battalion succeeded in capturing all of its objectives, and holding them until relieved, but, subjected to heavy counter-attacks, the first day of this battle was the battalion's single most costly of the war. Later in 1917 the battalion moved with the rest of the AIF to the Ypres sector in Belgium, and in October participated in the battle to secure Broodseinde Ridge.

In April 1918 the 23rd helped to turn back the German spring offensive, and then took part in the battles that would mark the beginning of Germany's defeat - Hamel, Amiens and Mont St Quentin. The fighting for Mont St Quentin resulted in the battalion's only Victoria Cross, awarded to Private Robert Mactier.

The battalion fought its last battle around the town of Beaurevoir between 3 and 4 October. It left the front for the last time on the night of 5 October, and was resting when the armistice was declared on 11 November. The 23rd Battalion disbanded in Belgium on 30 April 1919.

Places	Mouquet Farm Ypres
Events	Battle of Amiens Battle of Broodseinde Ridge Battle of Hamel Battle of Lone Pine Battle of Pozieres Beaurevoir Line German Spring Offensive
Battle Honours	Albert, 1918 Amiens Bapaume, 1917 Beaurevoir Broodseinde Bullecourt Egypt, 1915-16 France and Flanders, 1916-18 Gallipoli, 1915 Hamel Hindenburg Line Menin Road Mont St. Quentin Passchendaele Poelcappelle Polygon Wood Pozières Somme, 1916, '18 Ypres, 1917

 (Australian War Memorial)

Great Britain (United Kingdom) under King George V
British War Medal
1918 Silver Medal 48mm x 35mm (32.95 grams)

GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:, Bareheaded King George V facing left.
1914 1918, Saint George naked on horseback and armed with a short sword, horse trampling Prussian eagle shield and skull and cross-bones. In background, ocean waves and just off-centre near the right upper rim is the risen sun of Victory Years on the perimeter in the left and right fields respectively

The British War Medal was instituted on 26 July 1919 for award to those who had rendered service between 5 August 1914, the day following the British declaration of war against the German Empire, and the armistice of 11 November 1918, both dates inclusive. Consideration was given to the award of clasps to commemorate certain battles and theatres of operations and some 68 clasps were proposed for Naval recipients and 79 for the Army. While the Naval clasps were authorised in August 1920, none were awarded and the idea was abandoned in 1923. Unlike the 1914 Star and the 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal could be awarded to all officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had served for a prescribed period during any stage of the war, or who had died on active service before the completion of this period. Eligibility for the award of the medal was subsequently extended to cover service in 1919 and 1920 in mine-clearing at sea as well as participation in operations in North and South Russia, the eastern Baltic region, Siberia, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.  The medal is a silver or bronze disk, 36 millimetres in diameter, with a straight clasp suspender without swivel. The medal was designed by W. McMillan and struck by the Royal Mint. The recipient's name, rank, service number and unit are impressed on the bottom edge of the medal. On medals awarded to Army officers, with the exception of the Royal Artillery, the name of the regiment or corps was omitted.

i do combine postage and for domestic or international buyers will only be charged postage for the first item