Matthew Poland

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 28/01/2015 - 12:07

First Name:

Matthew

Last Name:

Poland

Date of Birth:

Tuesday, August 20, 1889

Mother's Name:

Susannah (nee Law)

Father's Name:

Matthew Poland

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, June 19, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Sergeant

Unit:

18th Battalion, 2nd Pioneers

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

Military Medal

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, August 3, 1962

Place of Death:

Lithgow, New South Wales

Details:

Sergeant Matthew Poland (Service no. 1993) was born in Mount Kembla and prior to enlistment worked as a miner.

He embarked on HMAT A54 Runic on 9th August, 1915 with 3rd Reinforcements, 18th Battalion. On 11th October, 1915 he arrived on Gallipoli and served there until the evacuation. While in Egypt he transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion and travelled to Europe.

On 21st December, 1916 he was awarded Mention in Despatches (MID) for good service rendered.

In 1917 he attended bomb school.

On 5th October, 1918 while fighting on the last day of combat he was wounded with a gunshot wound to his buttock. He appears to have been a good soldier as he was promoted to Sergeant and on 16th April, 1918 was awarded the Military Medal. His citation was gazetted on 27th November, 1918 and reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty East of Bresle on 16.4.18 ... [Sergeant Poland and Watson] were engaged in laying out tapes for a new trench, and although under heavy shell fire for an hour and a half they stuck to their task and on completing it guided the working parties to their work. By their good example and coolness the work was successfully constructed in spite of a number of casualties which occurred.

He returned to Australia in March 1919 and in 1920 married Elizabeth Gallagher.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, POLAND MATTHEW