THE RARE AUSTRALIAN GREAT WAR ‘THIRD BATTLE OF GAZA’ M.M. AWARDED TO A DRIVER OF THE 1ST AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE FIELD AMBULANCE FOR HIS GALLANTRY IN BRINGING IN WOUNDED UNDER HEAVY SHELL AND MACHINE GUNFIRE, DURING WHICH THREE OF HIS HORSES WERE HIT, ONE BEING KILLED. UNABLE TO GET THE WOUNDED BACK TO THE LINES, HE REMAINED WITH THEM UNDER FIRE UNTIL IT WAS DARK

MILITARY MEDAL GVR ‘6051 DVR S.FLINT 1/L.H. F.A.AUST:A.M.C.’

M.M.London Gazette 19 March 1918.

'During the action at Tel Khuweilfe on 3/11/17 Driver Flint in conjunction with Driver Butler had to gallop with their sand cart containing wounded across an open stretch some 500 yards under heavy shell and machine gunfire. After proceeding some 200 yards three of the horses were wounded and the cart could not proceed. Driver Flint with much difficulty was able to free his horses which were struggling. He then attached them to his sand cart so that the wounded would have less chance of being hit. He then unhitched a dead horse and periodically had to expose himself so as to see to the wounded as the cart was still under fire. Throughout out of action he was compelled to remain till dark'.

Septimus Flint, a 21-year-old farm labourer from Cowra, New South Wales, enlisted into the Australian Imperial Forces on 19 February 1915. Initially posted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital, he embarked for Egypt in November 1915, transferring to the 1st Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance in April 1916 with the rank of Driver. Serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from June 1916, he spent various periods in hospital and with the Hospital Train, before joining the 1st Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance at Shellal on 5 May 117.

On 3 September 1917, he was awarded 1 day of field punishment, his conduct noted as ‘to the prejudice of good order in that he struck a native driver belonging to the Field Ambulance’. Two months later, he was again convicted and forfeited 7 days pay for ‘Whilst on active service, conduct prejudice to the good and military discipline in that he on 19/11/17 at Ramleh hesitated to obey an order given by an NCO’.

Despite this, Flint was awarded the Military Medal for ‘conspicuous bravery in the field at Khuweilfe 3/11/17’.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tel_el_Khuweilfe

However on 28 November 1917, he was again conduct prejudice to the good and military discipline for insubordination to an NCO on 29 October 1917 and for neglect of duty. He was again convicted for insubordination on 27 May 1918, each time forfeiting pay. He was yet again accused of neglecting his duty on 8 June 1918 but this time found not to be to blame. In October 1918, Flint was sent to hospital and was invalided, embarking for Suez and on to Australia on 15 November 1918.

In 1927, Flint enquired about his 1914/5 Star, BW and Victory medals which he said he had never received. He received a reply telling him they had been sent in 1920 and 1923 and had not been returned unissued. There is no record of reissue of these medals, so it seems they must have been lost in transit.

The 1st Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance was assigned to Anzac Mounted Division in March 1916, supporting the Light Horse regiments units in Egypt, Sinai, and Palestine, 1916-18, sharing in the actions and battles they took part in.

Condition NVF, EK’s and contact wear. With copy service papers and War Diaries for period of award (digital). A rare award to this unit, just 4 M.M.’s being awarded.