Thomas Leslie Axford
Lance-Corporal, 16th Battalion Australian Imperial Force (Sth Aust & West Aust.)
- Register No.
- 41 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 16th Battalion Australian Imperial Force (Sth Aust & West Aust.) (register: 16th Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 4 July 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 17th August 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 18th June 1894 at Carletone,Carriston , South Australia
- Died
- 11th October 1983 in an aircraft flying between Dubai
- Memorial / grave
- Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
- Medal held by
- the Australian War Memorial, Canberra,
Digest of citation
On 4th July 1918 during the attack at Vaire and Hamel Woods, France when the advance of the adjoining platoon was being delayed in uncut wire and machine-gun fire, and his company commander had become a casualty, Lance-Corporal Axford charged and threw bombs amongst the enemy gun crews. He then jumped into the trench, and charging with his bayonet, killed 10 of the enemy and took six prisoners. He threw the machine -gun over the parapet and the delayed platoon was able to advance. He then rejoined his own platoon and fought with it during the remainder of their operations
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
AXFORD, Thomas Leslie. (Reg. No. 41)
Lance-Corporal 16th Battalion Australian Imperial Force (Sth Aust & West Aust.)
London Gazetted on 17th August 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Born on 18th June 1894 at Carletone,Carriston , South Australia.
Died on 11th October 1983 in an aircraft flying between Dubai and Hongkong.
Memorial at Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 4th July 1918 during the attack at Vaire and Hamel Woods, France when the advance of the adjoining platoon was being delayed in uncut wire and machine-gun fire, and his company commander had become a casualty, Lance-Corporal Axford charged and threw bombs amongst the enemy gun crews. He then jumped into the trench, and charging with his bayonet, killed 10 of the enemy and took six prisoners. He threw the machine -gun over the parapet and the delayed platoon was able to advance. He then rejoined his own platoon and fought with it during the remainder of their operations
Australia.
and Hongkong.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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