Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Padgett Medal Group including US Distinguished Service Cross

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Overview

Display encompassing the World War 1 medal group of 546 Sergeant John Rush Padgett DSC, 44 Battalion AIF together with a photograph, his identity discs and a mizpah pin.

Historical information

Private Padgett enlisted in 44 Battalion AIF in January 1916 and embarked from Fremantle in July. He arrived in France on 25 November 1916. Promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1916, he was wounded a year later and did not return to France until January 1918 and re-joined 44 Battalion. He was promoted Corporal in July 1918. During an attack on the Hindenburg Line on 2 9 September, with his section he seized and held a section of German trench. Later in the action he carried a wounded American serviceman to safety across open ground subject to heavy machine gun fire. It was for this act of bravery that he was awarded the United States Distinguished Service Cross. Padgett’s is among the first Distinguished Service Crosses awarded and one of only a handful to Australian servicemen in World War 1

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99.010

Contextual Information

The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Army for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. The Distinguished Service Cross was first awarded during World War I. On the obverse of the cross is an eagle on the centre and below a scroll bearing the inscription "FOR VALOR". On the reverse side, the centre of the cross is circled by a wreath with a space for engraving the name of the recipient. The suspender is a loose ring attached to a ball at the top of the cross. The ribbon is dark blue with white and red edge stripes.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

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