George Frederick Mason
Woodanilling Soldier Honoured.
MASON DECORATED.
Southern Districts Advocate
11 September 1918 – P3
The opening ceremony of the Woodanilling Cottage Hospital concluded and, at the request of Mr. Stubbs, the people congregated round a nearby car from which the Minister for Lands, F. E. Willmott, M.L.A., announced he had a further pleasing duty to perform.
“They had a returned soldier in their midst of whom they were all very proud. He had fought with such distinction that he had commanded notice in other quarters and had won the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
He referred to Captain (George Frederick) Mason, (11th Battalion, H Company ) and it was his pleasing duty to decorate him with the medal. The medal had been awarded for conspicuous gallantry and ability in the field of action in which Captain Mason had shown great courage and resource.”
“Some soldiers were made, others were born.” He pronounced Captain Mason a born soldier. “It was pleasing that he had come home to settle amongst his friends and he thought his friends fortunate to claim so distinguished a soldier.”
Born in South Africa, Mason embarked with his unit from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board Transport A11 Ascanius on 2 November 1914.
The investiture was then performed amidst cheers and musical honours.
CITATION:
Distinguished Conduct Medal
‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability on the 25th April, 1915, and the three following days at Gaba Tepe (Anzac Cove) (Dardanelles). During these days of continuous fighting, Sergeant Mason showed great courage and resource in holding his men together under constant fire, and when isolated parties which had advanced too far had to be withdrawn, he covered their retirement with conspicuous skill and bravery.’
Source: ‘London Gazette’ No. 8855
Date: 6 September 1915
1st Battalion troops having taken 80 yards of a Turkish trench, waiting near Jacob’s Trench for relief by the 7th Battalion. Identified from left: Captain Cecil Duncan Sasse, (with eyes bandaged, later Lieutenant Colonel, DSO and Bar); 2211 Private George Wood (with moustache and legs crossed); 2173 Private Martin Maher (smoking pipe); 2190 Claude Wilfred Leo Pittendrigh (hands near rifle muzzle); unidentified (in corner of frame). These men had been fighting continuously from the beginning of the Lone Pine attack on 6 August 1915. (AWM Archives)
Note: The Distinguished Conduct Medal is second only to the Victoria Cross for bravery and gallantry under fire during war time.