Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Somme’ M.M. awarded to Private A. J. Bye, 29th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for repeated gallantry as a Company Runner during the attack on Vauvilliers, 9 August 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (4179 Pte. A. J. Bye. 29/Inf: Bn: A.I.F.) nearly very fine £600-£700

M.M. London Gazette 21 January 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘During the attack on Vauvilliers 9th August 1918. Private Bye was acting in the capacity of runner attached to the Company headquarters. He did splendid work throughout the whole operation, repeatedly making runs to and from platoons across the open and bringing back information to the company commander as to the exact situation. During the whole of his work he was continuously under very heavy machine gun fire at almost point blank range and had to move across fully exposed ground in order to deliver his messages. He showed a splendid example of cool courage and self sacrifice under the most trying conditions.’

He was also recommended for a Mention in Despatches:

‘For bravery at Morlancourt, south west of Albert on the night 28th/29th July 1918. This soldier was a Company Runner and throughout the advance kept his Company Commander in touch with platoons and sections of his Company. He carried out his duties under a heavy and continuous fire. He was of the greatest assistance to his Company Commander in his task of reorganising his Company at the final objective.’

Albert John Bye was born in Euston, New South Wales and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, at Mildura, Victoria, 30 September 1916. He served with the 32nd Australian Infantry Battalion in the French theatre of war from November 1917. He transferred to the 29th Australian Infantry Battalion the following month, and served with them as part of the 8th Australian Brigade, 5th Australian Division.

Bye was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry as a Company Runner during the attack on Vauvilliers, Somme, 9 August 1918. On the latter date the Battalion suffered 3 officers and 14 other ranks killed, and 9 officers and 69 other ranks wounded. They did, however, capture a number of machine guns and a motor car during the attack.

This was not the first time that Bye’s gallantry had been noted (see M.I.D. recommendation above), and ‘in any battle there are two groups of soldiers who, while not directly involved in the fighting, run enormous personal risks; these men are the stretcher bearers and the runners. Among the company runners who made repeated trips across ground that was constantly swept by enemy fire were Privates Albert Bye, Maurice Deeker and Stan Featherston.’ (Black and Gold - The History of the 29th Battalion 1915-1918, by R. J. Austin, refers).

Bye returned to the 32nd Battalion in October 1918, and was discharged at Melbourne, 29 June 1919.