Gazette Information: GAZETTE ISSUE 30400, VICTORIA CROSS,: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30400/supplement/12328. His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned:- No. 2060 Serjeant John James Dwyer, Australian Machine Gun Corps, Australian Imperial Force. For most conspicuous bravery when in attack. On 26th September 1917 at Zonnebeke, Belgium, Serjeant Dwyer, in charge of a Vickers machine-gun, went forward with the first wave of the brigade. On reaching the final objective this Non-commissioned Officer rushed his gun forward in advance of the captured position in order to obtain a commanding spot, Whilst advancing he noticed an enemy machine-gun firing on the troops on our right flank and causing casualties. Unhesitatingly he rushed his gun forward to within thirty yards of the enemy gun and fired point blank at it, putting it out of action and killing the gun crew. He then seized the gun and totally ignoring the snipers from the rear of the enemy position, carried it back across the shell-swept ground to our front line and established both it and his Vickers gun on the right flank of our brigade. Serjeant Dwyer commanded these guns with great coolness and when the enemy counter-attacked our positions he rendered great assistance in repulsing them. On the following day when the position was heavily shelled, this Non-commissioned Officer took up successive positions. On one occasion his Vickers gun was blown up by shell fire, but he conducted his gun team back to Headquarters through the enemy barrage, secured one of the reserve guns, and rushed it back to our position in the shortest possible time. During the whole of the attack his contempt of danger, cheerfulness and courage raised the spirits of all who were in his sector of the line.
Fold3_Team · Oct 31, 2023
Gazette Information: GAZETTE ISSUE 30400, VICTORIA CROSS,: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30400/supplement/12328. His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned:- No. 2060 Serjeant John James Dwyer, Australian Machine Gun Corps, Australian Imperial Force. For most conspicuous bravery when in attack. On 26th September 1917 at Zonnebeke, Belgium, Serjeant Dwyer, in charge of a Vickers machine-gun, went forward with the first wave of the brigade. On reaching the final objective this Non-commissioned Officer rushed his gun forward in advance of the captured position in order to obtain a commanding spot, Whilst advancing he noticed an enemy machine-gun firing on the troops on our right flank and causing casualties. Unhesitatingly he rushed his gun forward to within thirty yards of the enemy gun and fired point blank at it, putting it out of action and killing the gun crew. He then seized the gun and totally ignoring the snipers from the rear of the enemy position, carried it back across the shell-swept ground to our front line and established both it and his Vickers gun on the right flank of our brigade. Serjeant Dwyer commanded these guns with great coolness and when the enemy counter-attacked our positions he rendered great assistance in repulsing them. On the following day when the position was heavily shelled, this Non-commissioned Officer took up successive positions. On one occasion his Vickers gun was blown up by shell fire, but he conducted his gun team back to Headquarters through the enemy barrage, secured one of the reserve guns, and rushed it back to our position in the shortest possible time. During the whole of the attack his contempt of danger, cheerfulness and courage raised the spirits of all who were in his sector of the line.