A photograph of Arthur Welesley Towers of Longwarry who was recognised for bravery in World War I.
Each year, Longwarry and District Heritage Group record the story of one local man or woman to mark Remembrance Day.
This year's story is that of Towers who was recognised for an exceptional act of bravery by the President of France.
Towers was born in Korumburra and subsequently moved to Longwarry to work in John Freeman's sawmill.
He enlisted in the Australian Army on July 15, 1915 and celebrated Christmas whilst on a troop ship at sea. He arrived in France on December 29.
Attached to the 6th Battalion that had been amongst the first at Gallipoli, Towers joined a very battle-hardened group of soldiers.
It wasn't long before his Battalion were in action. It was in the first of the Battle of the Somme that began on July 1, 1916. Just 24 days later, Towers received severe gun shot wounds to the back and face.
He was evacuated to a hospital in England, where he recuperated for 11 months. Instead of being sent home when he had recovered, he was sent back to his Battalion in France.
Again, Towers suffered serious injury in August 1918. Affected by a German gas shell in a battle around Villers-Bretonneux, he was hospitalised. However, this time the war had ended by the time he had recuperated, and he boarded a ship to come home on January 24, 1919.
Any man or woman who is prepared to risk their lives in the service of their country is undoubtedly very brave. Then there are those who come under notice and receive awards for their exceptional bravery beyond what is expected.
On the Longwarry cenotaph alone, there are the names of five men who won the Military Medal for bravery, and many more that were mentioned in dispatches for bravery.
Arthur Towers was also recognised for an exceptional act of bravery, but in a very different manner.
He was awarded the Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze by non-other than the President of France. Translated, it means Bronze Medal of Honour with Swords.
The citation for giving the award reads, "for individuals who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy".
The medal was for troops from countries other than France. And, of the nearly two and a half million troops from British Commonwealth countries who fought, no more than 700 of the Bronze Medal of Honor with Swords were awarded.
The presentation ceremony of the medal was made after the war. As Arthur had already returned to Longwarry to his job at John Freeman's mill, he unfortunately didn't get to attend the ceremony in France. The medal was instead sent to him by mail in 1921.
Photograph and information courtesy of the Longwarry and District Heritage Group.
The non-profit organisation, run by volunteers, currently has a GoFundMe online fundraiser to help get heritage projects started.
To find out more, visit gofundme.com/f/saving-our-rich-past
The Longwarry RSL will hold its Remembrance Day service at the Longwarry cenotaph in Memorial Park at 11am on Monday, November 11.