Thomas Axford

Thomas Leslie "Jack" Axford VC, MM (18 June 1894 – 11 October 1983), was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life
Axford was born on 18 June 1894 at Carrieton, South Australia. He moved to Coolgardie, Western Australia with his family at the age of two, and worked at the Boulder Brewery after leaving school.

Military service
Axford enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces military forces in 1912. He served in the 84th Infantry Regiment until July 1915, when he joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Axford was assigned to the 11th Reinforcements of the 16th Battalion on 9 August 1915, which left Australia on HMAT Benalla that November.

Axford was wounded in August 1916 and again in August 1917, the second time so badly that he did not rejoin his battalion until January 1918. In February 1918, he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On 24 May 1918, Axford was awarded the Military Medal.

On 4 July 1918, the events took place for which Axford was awarded the VC:
 * On 4 July 1918 during the attack at Vaire and Hamel Woods, France, when the advance of the adjoining platoon was being delayed in uncut wire and machine-gun fire, and his company commander had become a casualty, Lance-Corporal Axford charged and threw bombs amongst the enemy gun crews. He then jumped into the trench, and charging with his bayonet, killed 10 of the enemy and took six prisoners. He threw the machine-guns over the parapet and the delayed platoon was able to advance. He then rejoined his own platoon and fought with it during the remainder of the operations.

In addition to the VC, Axford was also that month promoted to corporal.

Axford returned to Western Australia in October 1918, and was discharged on 2 February 1919.

Later life
In November 1919 Axford was working as a miner in Kalgoorlie. In June 1941, during the Second World War, he re-enlisted and served with the Western Australian Echelon and Records Office. He was discharged with the rank of sergeant in April 1947. In later life he lived for many years in Perth in the suburb of Mount Hawthorn. He died on 11 October 1983 and was cremated at the Karrakatta Crematorium in Perth. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Axford Park in Mount Hawthorn, and the Thomas Axford ward at the former Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood, are named in his honour.

Honours and awards