Historical information

World War 1 1914-18 affected most families in Moorabbin Shire with large numbers of young men enlisting in the Australian Infantry Force. Alonzo Sheldrake Box , a pavier of Oakleigh, Victoria served at Gallipoli, France and Somme . When he returned home Oakleigh, like many Australian Towns, celebrated his safety and courage by presenting him with this Gold Medal. Each town also mourned the loss of so many soldiers and collected money from the residents to build War Memorials on which were engraved the names of the deceased soldiers.
Alonzo Sheldrake Box (1851 - 1958) was the nephew of William and Elizabeth Box who lived in Box Cottage , East Brighton - now Ormond -. He married Mary Louisa Closter on June 12th 1918 at Holy Trinity, Church of England, Oakleigh.

Significance

Alonzo Box was the son of John Box, who migrated from Sussex, England with his brother William Box c1855 , and established a market garden in East Brighton that was part of the Henry Dendy ' Special Survey Brighton 1841'

Physical description

A gold metal medal with top crest , 2 attachment rings, engraved on both sides presented to Alonzo Sheldrake Box 'For God King and Country. Aus. 1914 '

Inscriptions & markings

Front ; outer circle - FOR GOD KING AND COUNTRY AUS. 1914
inner circle - tableau of a woman, rising sun and fighting soldiers
Back : outer circle - PRESENTED BY THE CITIZENS OF OAKLEIGH
centre - IN / RECOGNITION OF / SERVICE RENDd./ A.S.BOX / AIF / laurel wreath