Historical information

Tribute medallions were presented to all 1914 enlistees from St Kilda by the citizens of St Kilda. Two presentations were held, one in November 1918 (98 recipients) and one in May 1919 (90 recipients). Both were organised by the St Kilda Patriotic Committee and held at the St Kilda Town Hall. Gunner J.D. Cullen attended the May 1919 function.
John (Jack) Dudley Cullen was the first person from St Kilda to enlist in World War I. He lived at 23 Argyle Street (now Waterloo Crescent), St Kilda.
An electrician with three years service with the militia behind him, Jack enlisted on 14 August 1914 at the age of 21. By 20 October that year he was sailing to Egypt on the HMAT Shropshire as a member of the 5th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade. He served in the Middle East for a short time before being hospitalised with enteric fever and returning home to Australia.
After recovering, Jack undertook permanent guard duties at Broadmeadows Training Camp until October 1916, when he went to England with the 118th Howitzer Battery on the HMAT Aeneas. He again returned to Australia on health grounds, this time suffering a bronchial condition, and was discharged in June 1918.
In February 1918, while still in England, Jack married Miss Daisy Dawes of Durrington, near Salisbury. They settled for a short while in Australia but returned to live in England in 1921.

Physical description

Round medal, 9 carat gold and dark blue enamel. Eyelet attached

Inscriptions & markings

Front: The City of St Kilda coat of arms within a dark blue enamel band bearing gold lettering 'PRESENTED BY THE CITIZENS OF ST. KILDA'
Back: Engraved with the inscription 'GNR J.D. CULLEN' and raised lettering 'ENLISTED AND EMBARKED IN 1914 THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR 1914-18'