19BN Military Medal winner at Rainecourt , who was later Killed in Action at Mont St. Quentin.
Military Medal Geo.V impressed 6079 CPL. B.J.D.HARDING 19/AUST: INF:
British War Medal impressed 6079 A/SGT. B.J.S.HARDING 19BN. A.I.F.
Missing Victory medal and note incorrect third initial on M.M.
Bertie Joseph Samuel Harding enlisted 8/2/16, prior to this he was a bank clerk and a Lieutenant in the Senior Cadets. Embarking on 25/10/16 he eventually joined his unit in France in May 1917.
Due to an accidental wounding of his thumb by a grenade blast on 9/7/17 and hospitalisation in England he was fortunate to miss the horrific fighting of the third battle of Ypres, rejoining his unit on 4/1/18.
After being gassed on 18/4/18 it was on the 11th. August 1918 at Rainecourt, Bertie performed the gallant deed which resulted in the award of the Military Medal. His citation reads:
During operations on 11th. August 1918 against Rainecourt, east of Ameins, this N.C.O. displayed marked courage and initiative. On reaching the objective, the left company was unable to get in touch with the battalion on its flank owing to heavy machine gun fire, holding this battalion up. With absolute fearlessness Cpl. HARDING worked round behind the enemy and heavily bombed them. The suddenness of the attack scattering the enemy who were shot down by a lewis gun in their efforts to escape.
Cpl. HARDING captured 2 prisoners and 2 machine guns. The fine dash and energy of this N.C.O. removed a difficult obstacle and enabled communicationto be established between the two battalions without further trouble.
Tragically Harding did not live to hear of his award which was not gazetted until 14/5/19. On 31/8/18 he was killed in action at Mont St. Quentin, the taking of which is referred to as the most brilliant achievement of the A.I.F. ........ VF
