Four black and white images of miners under the Western front during World War One. They are possibly French soldiers. world war one, underground warfare, mining warfare, western front, tunnellers, mining corps

Awarded to Spr. W. H. Orford by Shire of Eltham Welcome Home Committee Welcome Home Medal The Welcome Home Medal was issued to acknowledge service during World War 1. As groups of servicemen returned and were discharged a local welcome home function was held in their honour. The welcome home committee decided that to commemorate the occasion a medal should be presented to the returned servicemen and also to the nearest relations of those who had fallen during the conflict. The medal shown was presented to Sapper William Henry Orford, of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, an uncle of Doug Orford, one of our members. Sapper Orford participated in an operation where on June 7, 1917, British and Australian tunnellers detonated 19 massive mines beneath German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium, marking a pivotal moment in WWI underground warfare. The explosions, including those at the heavily contested Hill 60, created craters 60 feet deep, killed roughly 10,000 German troops, and were heard as far away as London. Tunnellers from Australian and British units worked for over a year (since 1916) in treacherous conditions—including quicksand and mud—to dig tunnels beneath German strongpoints. At 3:10 a.m. on June 7, nearly 1,000,000 pounds of explosives (ammonal) were detonated, creating one of the largest pre-atomic explosions in history The explosions shattered German morale and destroyed defences, allowing Allied forces to take the ridge. Specifically, Australian miners placed, at great risk, two massive mines under the German-held Hill 60 and the nearby "Caterpillar" crater. Inscribed on the front of the medal is: SPR W.H. ORFORD FROM ELTHAM WE HONOUR YOU GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919 On the back of the medal is the image of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle. Smaller than originally stated the Eltham Districts medal is midway between a 10 and 20 cent piece in size. The medal is a fine piece of craftsmanship and is understood to have cost £4 to make. On 22nd April 2014 Society members were pleased to attend an announcement by Mr Damien Drum, Victorian Minister for Veterans Affairs and Sport, of funding for installation of signage for the Eltham and Hurstbridge Avenues of Honour. Doug Orford was there and created much interest with his Welcome Home Medal, including from Minister Drum. See also EDHS Newsletter No. 216 May 2014spr. w.h. orford, welcome home committee, welcome home medal, world war 1, avenue of honour, jim connor collection, mr damien drum, victorian minister for veterans affairs and sport, william henry orford

Awarded to Spr. W. H. Orford by Shire of Eltham Welcome Home Committee Welcome Home Medal The Welcome Home Medal was issued to acknowledge service during World War 1. As groups of servicemen returned and were discharged a local welcome home function was held in their honour. The welcome home committee decided that to commemorate the occasion a medal should be presented to the returned servicemen and also to the nearest relations of those who had fallen during the conflict. The medal shown was presented to Sapper William Henry Orford, of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, an uncle of Doug Orford, one of our members. Sapper Orford participated in an operation where on June 7, 1917, British and Australian tunnellers detonated 19 massive mines beneath German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium, marking a pivotal moment in WWI underground warfare. The explosions, including those at the heavily contested Hill 60, created craters 60 feet deep, killed roughly 10,000 German troops, and were heard as far away as London. Tunnellers from Australian and British units worked for over a year (since 1916) in treacherous conditions—including quicksand and mud—to dig tunnels beneath German strongpoints. At 3:10 a.m. on June 7, nearly 1,000,000 pounds of explosives (ammonal) were detonated, creating one of the largest pre-atomic explosions in history The explosions shattered German morale and destroyed defences, allowing Allied forces to take the ridge. Specifically, Australian miners placed, at great risk, two massive mines under the German-held Hill 60 and the nearby "Caterpillar" crater. Inscribed on the front of the medal is: SPR W.H. ORFORD FROM ELTHAM WE HONOUR YOU GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919 On the back of the medal is the image of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle. Smaller than originally stated the Eltham Districts medal is midway between a 10 and 20 cent piece in size. The medal is a fine piece of craftsmanship and is understood to have cost £4 to make. On 22nd April 2014 Society members were pleased to attend an announcement by Mr Damien Drum, Victorian Minister for Veterans Affairs and Sport, of funding for installation of signage for the Eltham and Hurstbridge Avenues of Honour. Doug Orford was there and created much interest with his Welcome Home Medal, including from Minister Drum. See also EDHS Newsletter No. 216 May 2014spr. w.h. orford, welcome home committee, welcome home medal, world war 1, avenue of honour, jim connor collection, mr damien drum, victorian minister for veterans affairs and sport, william henry orford

Awarded to Spr. W. H. Orford by Shire of Eltham Welcome Home Committee Welcome Home Medal The Welcome Home Medal was issued to acknowledge service during World War 1. As groups of servicemen returned and were discharged a local welcome home function was held in their honour. The welcome home committee decided that to commemorate the occasion a medal should be presented to the returned servicemen and also to the nearest relations of those who had fallen during the conflict. The medal shown was presented to Sapper William Henry Orford, of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, an uncle of Doug Orford, one of our members. Sapper Orford participated in an operation where on June 7, 1917, British and Australian tunnellers detonated 19 massive mines beneath German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium, marking a pivotal moment in WWI underground warfare. The explosions, including those at the heavily contested Hill 60, created craters 60 feet deep, killed roughly 10,000 German troops, and were heard as far away as London. Tunnellers from Australian and British units worked for over a year (since 1916) in treacherous conditions—including quicksand and mud—to dig tunnels beneath German strongpoints. At 3:10 a.m. on June 7, nearly 1,000,000 pounds of explosives (ammonal) were detonated, creating one of the largest pre-atomic explosions in history The explosions shattered German morale and destroyed defences, allowing Allied forces to take the ridge. Specifically, Australian miners placed, at great risk, two massive mines under the German-held Hill 60 and the nearby "Caterpillar" crater. Inscribed on the front of the medal is: SPR W.H. ORFORD FROM ELTHAM WE HONOUR YOU GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919 On the back of the medal is the image of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle. Smaller than originally stated the Eltham Districts medal is midway between a 10 and 20 cent piece in size. The medal is a fine piece of craftsmanship and is understood to have cost £4 to make. On 22nd April 2014 Society members were pleased to attend an announcement by Mr Damien Drum, Victorian Minister for Veterans Affairs and Sport, of funding for installation of signage for the Eltham and Hurstbridge Avenues of Honour. Doug Orford was there and created much interest with his Welcome Home Medal, including from Minister Drum. See also EDHS Newsletter No. 216 May 2014spr. w.h. orford, welcome home committee, welcome home medal, world war 1, avenue of honour, jim connor collection, mr damien drum, victorian minister for veterans affairs and sport, william henry orford