THE PRESENTATIONS
“Before the medals were presented, Mr. C.J. Mannall (chairman) said the Horseshoe Bend Welcome Home Committee had been giving a welcome home to all the Horseshoe Bend heroes who had returned, and these welcomes would never be forgotten. “He thought it a pity that similar welcome homes had not been given to other soldiers of the Maitland area. “But the Horseshoe Bend committee decided that the returned men should have something given to them to commemorate the heroic part they had played in the war and decided to present each man with a gold medal. “These medals were very unique. “ Each had a horseshoe in the center with the monogram of the recipient, the name of the returned soldier to whom it was presented, and an inscription stating by whom and what it was presented for and each was surmounted by a crown, and attached by a green ribbon to a gold pin for the purpose of attaching to the coat.”
(The HSB Honour Roll lists a H. and L.A. Mannall K.I.A.)
- One of the recipients of the medal was Private: 81 Reginald James HACKETT, 34th Battalion, who had his right arm amputated above the elbow after being wounded at Messines, June 7 1917. Less than two months after being awarded the medal he killed himself with a revolver. He lived with Miss Soorley in Cohen Street.
- A medal to Major (Dr) J.J. Hollywood, living in the “extended area” of Horseshoe Bend.
- A medal to Nurse Dorothy Feneley and the HSB committee “were honoured and had the privilege of welcoming home one of their brave nurses.” A very important historical record of WWI.
(By Peter Bogan; Sept. 7, 2014)
It is not known how many medals were commissioned but the Roll of Honour from the Horseshoe Bend Infants school lists the names of sixty four men, thirteen K.I.A, leaving fifty one to return home.
(Horseshoe Bend, Maitland. Cynthia Hunter, Maitland City Council, 2000)
(By Peter Bogan; Sept. 7, 2014)
Known Recipients of the 9th Infantry Brigade AIF are:
Staff Sergeant: 395 Edward John Cecil CROSSINGHAM. M.M. 34th Battalion AIF.
Sergeant: 533 George Henry PRESTON. 34th Battalion AIF.
Lance Corporal: 360 Vincent James ALLSOP. 35th Battalion AIF. Killed in Action: 29/05/1917. Messines Ridge.
Private: 2527 Francis Harold BINNS. M.M. 35th Battalion AIF.
Private: 2545 William CROOKS. 34th Battalion AIF.
Private: 1529 Michael GRIFFIN. 34th Battalion AIF.
Private: 81 Reginald James HACKETT. 34th Battalion AIF. Committed Suicide: 1918 West Maitland, N.S.W.
Private: 1268 John JAMES. 35th Battalion AIF.
Private: 162 Percy John NICHOLLS. 35th Battalion AIF.
Private: 1641 Francis O'BRIEN. 35th Battalion AIF.
Private: 2637 Arthur Oliver PINFOLD. 34th Battalion AIF.
Private: 192 Edward Rolf SPINKS. 34th Battalion AIF. Killed in Action: 09/06/1917. Messines Ridge.
Private: 2661 George SIMMONS. 35th Battalion AIF. Killed in Action: 12/10/1917. Passchendaele.
Horseshoe Bend Roll of Honour
There were 6 men who served with the 34th Battalion AIF and 7 who served with the 35th Battalion AIF from the 64 names on the Horseshoe Bend Honour Roll.
David John Harrower; January 2021
Horseshoe Bend Medal; 35th Battalion Colours Brown over Green
Under Construction: 07/01/2021-02/05/2024.