Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Somme’ ambulance driver’s M.M. group of three awarded to Driver M. G. Moss, 3rd Motor Transport Company, Australian Army Service Corps, attached 10th Field Ambulance, Australian Imperial Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (11840 Dvr: M. G. Moss. 3/M.T. Coy. Aust: A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (11840 MT/Dvr. M. G. Moss. 3 D.S.C. A.I.F.) mounted for display, very fine (3) £650-750

M.M. London Gazette 29 August 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘On 24th April 1918 at Bonnay he drove his car through the village on a number of occasions whilst it was being heavily shelled with gas and H.E.

Later in the morning he drove his car right up to a battery on the outskirts of Bonnay and picked up a load of wounded under fire.

On another occasion he took his car up to a cross road which was being heavily shelled and picked up another load of wounded. His courage and coolness greatly assisted the quick evacuation of casualties and undoubtedly helped to save a number of lives.’

Michael George Moss was born in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, in 1890. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, at the city of his birth, 11 April 1916. Moss embarked for the UK with the 3rd Division Supply Column, 26th (Motor Transport) Company, Australian Army Service Corps in June 1916.

Moss served with the 3rd Motor Transport Company in the French theatre of war from November 1916, and was awarded his M.M. for service whilst attached to the 10th Field Ambulance, as part of the 3rd Australian Division, on the Somme, 24 April 1918. The War Diary for the 10th Field Ambulance on the latter date records gas and heavy explosive shelling on Bonnay, with the units in the surrounding area suffering high casualties. Approximately 200 casualties passed through the 10th Field Ambulance between 4-8am on 24 April 1918.

Moss subsequently transferred to the 5th Motor Transport Company, and returned to Australia in October 1919. He was discharged 17 December 1919.