Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal

For conspicuous bravery and devotion to Duty at Lone Pine, Gallipoli.  During a very heavy bomb attack on the captured position, he was with another, detailed to smother the unexploded bombs with sandbags as they fell, or to throw them back into the enemy's trenches.  He performed this hazardous duty with the greatest bravery until his companion was killed and he himself had his hand blown off.  He never hesitated although it was practically only a matter of time before one of the bombs would explode before he could deal with it.  Corporal Webb saved the lives of others at the risk of his own. 

Supplement to the London Gazette, 20/11/15. 

National Australian Archives, B2455.

CORPORAL "HARRY WEBB.

-"Herald,"

The many Essendon friends of Corporal Harry Webb will be pleased to hear that he has been awarded the distinguished service medal for acts of gallantry whilst serving with the Allies at the Dardanelles. For nine years prior to enlistment in the 7th Battalion, he was employed by Mr. H. Cliff, of Buckley street, Essendon, and was highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact. He was wounded on August 9th, but not seriously. He is one of the first Essendon boys to gain this distinction.

CORPORAL HARRY WEBB. (1915, October 21). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 5 Edition: Morning. Retrieved January 16, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74590447

Australian Red Cross Missing and Wounded Inquiry Bureau Correspondence Files.

Informant states "About the 9th August I was in the trenches at Lone Pine and I saw Cpl Webb hit in the arm by one of our own bombs.  It burst in his hand before he had time to throw it and his arm was blown off.  I saw him on the beach before he went on the Hospital Ship.  I went  on the 10th August to Lemnos and a mate named Cpl McDermot afterwards told me Webb was buried at sea.   Cpl McDermot had returned to  Australia".

Harry Tiley 1620
7th AIF, 2nd Inf Bde, C Coy
Harefield Hospital, Middlesex
Home address, Clarendon, Ballarat, Victoria


Informant states that he was on a hospital ship about August (after the 12th) and that he was told by a pal (name unknown) that this casualty died on board a transport, and was taken back and buried on Gallipoli about the 12th August  Casualty's wounds were one hand off, and severely wounded in the chest.

Pte A G Dolan, No 452 7th Bn B Co
Private address, 9 Dean St,

Moonee Ponds

27/3/16

Extract of letter from Colonel H E Elliott to Cr Henderson of Essendon

Another Essendon lad, Corporal Webb, did splendid service at Lone Pine. I believe he has recently been granted the D.C.M., but deserved the V.C. However, as the 7th were given four V.C.'s for that fight I suppose it was necessary to draw a line some where. Corporals Webb and Wright* distinguished themselves particularly by building up overhead cover and throwing back Turkish bombs all night, at a particularly dangerous place in the line until Wright was killed, and Webb had his hand blown off.

ESSENDON'S BRAVE BOYS. (1916, March 9). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 26, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74592204

*1062 Cpl Frederick Wright of Elsternwick, aged 26.