Born at Ballarat, Victoria, CoE. Enlisted 10 September 1915 age 34, school teacher. Nok wife, Mary Fisher Prendergast, Canterbury St, Oakleigh, Victoria. Embarked at Melbourne 1 April 1916 per A23 Suffolk. Served in Egypt and France. Wounded in action three times the first on 24 March, second on 26 September 1917 and the third occasion on 4 July 1918. Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal on 31 October 1917. RTA 2 January 1919 per Karmala. Service medals: BMW and VM. Cottesloe and district Honour Rolls. The citation for his Distinguished Conduct Medals is: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in charge of a reserve platoon, and, when the line in front had advanced, he saw an enemy machine gun post open a heavy fire. He rushed the post and captured seventeen prisoners, and three machine guns. His work throughout the operations was of the highest standard and he set a fine example to his men by his coolness and contempt of danger under heavy fire.’ Extract from London Gazette supp no. 30512 of 5 February 1918.
