Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1, Military Cross, 448 LINTOTT, 44 Battalion AIF

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Overview

Military Cross awarded to 448 Lieutenant Charles Daniel Wimbledon Lintott, 44 Battalion AIF of Collie

Historical information

The 44th Battalion was established in February 1916 in Claremont, Western Australia, as part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. Commanded initially by Lieutenant Colonel William Mansbridge, it earned the nickname "Old Bill's Thousand." The battalion left Australia on 6 June, arrived in Britain for additional training, and reached France in late November. It saw its first frontline action on the Western Front on 29 December.

Throughout the winter of 1916-17, the 44th Battalion alternated between frontline duties and work in rear areas, interrupted only by a major raid on 13 March 1917. Its first significant battle was at Messines in Belgium from 7 to 10 June. Following this, the battalion was actively engaged in the Ypres sector, participating in the battle for Broodseinde Ridge and enduring severe losses. Of the 992 men involved, only 158 returned unscathed by the time the battalion was relieved on 21 October.

For the next five months, the 44th Battalion rotated between rear and front lines in Belgium. When Germany launched its last major offensive in March 1918, the battalion was quickly deployed to France, helping halt the advance on Amiens. As the Allies prepared their own offensive, the 44th took part in the battle at Hamel on 4 July and was involved in the major Allied push starting on 8 August. The battalion's final action was breaching the Hindenburg Line at the St Quentin Canal in late September. Severely depleted by then, it was relieved from the front before the war's end and disbanded in May 1919.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-326

Inscriptions and markings

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He made several most gallant attempts to rescue a wounded officer and eventually succeeded in bringing him safely back to our lines. Later, he personally led rescue parties under heavy fire and brought in a number of wounded.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 140
Date: 27 August 1917

Contextual Information

This medal is displayed in the World War 1 Gallery of the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Links to additional resources

Court or Swing Mounted

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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