Albert Francis Lane

MM
5043 Military Medal. Private Born xx.9.1885 Enlisted 2.11.1915 (30 yrs). Single. Storekeeper. RC..Born Bennett Springs, NSW.
Embarked ‘Kyarra’ 5.6.1916 3 Div. 9 Brig. 33 Batt
Won Military Medal at Le Touquet 9 May 1917
Killed in action France 23.5.18
Buried Villers Bretonneux Cemetery 11.E.7
9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps. Recommendation for Military Medal. Dated 9 May, 1917 by Brigadier General Alex Jobson (?) Commanding Ninth Infantry Brigade, A I F. Endorsed by Major General, G O C Third Australian Division on 13 May 1917.
At LE TOUQUET on the night of 8/9 May, 1917, Pte A.F.LANE was one of the bombing squad on the left of “D” Gap. At 1 a.m. an enemy silent raid entered “D” Gap and was moving towards our Support Line when they were fired upon by rifle and a Lewis Gun, and commenced to withdraw. As soon as the enemy began to move back, and without waiting for orders from his Officer, Pte LANE dashed out of his bombing bay along the gap in order to cut off the party. He was stopped by the wire in the Gap after going about fifteen yards, but proceeded to bomb from there, and had thrown more than a dozen bombs, when joined by the remainder of the squad . There is no doubt that he inflicted casualties on the enemy, and the prisoner taken had his arm shattered by a bomb He later accompanied his Officer, 2nd Lieut McLean, on his two patrols into NO MAN’S LAND. This patrolling was particularly difficult as the moon was full, and the trenches at this place were hardly 75 yards apart, and was under fire of an enemy machine gun. Pte LANE set a splendid example of dash and initiative to his bombing squad and throughout conducted himself in a most courageous manner.