Lance Corporal John Schmidt, 8th Battalion, AIF.

Lance Corporal John Schmidt, 6142, 8th Battalion, AIF.

He enlisted on 2nd May 1916 at the age of 26 and a farmer from Quantong, Victoria.

He was awarded the Military Medal for service on the night 13th April 1918, during the battle of LYS.

The official recommendation was initially for the D.C.M, but the Military Medal was awarded.

“For gallant and distinguished service in front of Petit SEC BOIS near STRAZEELE on the night of 13th April, 1918. Lance Corporal SCHMIDT was in charge of a Lewis Gun Section in an isolated post guarding a road through No Man’s Land when he saw a party of the enemy about 40 strong approaching. With great coolness and presence of mind he allowed then to approach to within 10 yards of his gun post when he opened fire, killing 1 officer and 20 Other Ranks, the remainder retiring in disorder, leaving 6 machine guns, ammunition and tripods in our hands. He immediately put the captured Machine Guns into section against the enemy.

The presence of mind and great coolness displayed by him enabled us to inflict numerous casualties upon the enemy and gained valuable identification.”


The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 by C.E.W. Bean, covering the Battle of Lys records the action taken by Lance Corporal Schmidt.

“The first attack on the 1st Australian Division’s new front at Hazebrouck was made shortly after midnight of the 13th’ when a company of Germans came marching up a cross-country lane leading from Verte Rue to the Rue du Bois, across the Australian front. Behind a hedge bordering this lane was a Lewis gun post (Lance Corporal Schmidt’s) of Lieutenant Murdoch’s’ platoon of the centre company (Captain Fox’s), 8th Battalion.

The approaching troops, who were seen at some distance, were allowed to march without alarm to within twenty yards, when the Victorians blazed at them from every barrel, and continued to pour a withering fire into the Germans, whose survivors panicked and fled. Murdoch and some of his men went out and found a German officer and twenty men of the 141st Infantry Regiment dead and five abandoned machine-guns. Two nights later a sixth gun was found.”

He survived the war and returned to Australia. The West Wimmera Mail, 15th August 1919, reports his arrival and gives some extra details of his deeds on the night he won the Military Medal.

“Corporal C.J. SCHMIDT, of the 8th Battalion, and Sergeant C.A. SCHMIDT, 6th Battalion, who have just recently returned by the Port Darwin, are at present spending a few days with their uncle, Mr. John SCHMIDT, of Natimuk.

Both lads are very well known in the district, being sons of Mr and Mrs W. SCHMIDT, formally of Quantong, but who now reside in Footscray, Melbourne.

Corporal J. SCHMIDT, who has seen three years' service abroad, has been awarded the Military Medal for distinguished conduct in the field, having personally accounted for 40 Germans (killed), 8 machine guns captured, together with a number of rifles, ammunition, etc. "Jack" was keeping night guard (while the battle of Neippe Forest was raging) with six of his comrades who during a lull in the fighting were indulging in a much needed "forty-winks". Seeing a number of shadows advancing, Jack challenged the approachers twice, and on not getting any response unaided, lifted his machine gun over the hedge behind which they were ambushed, to a more advantageous position, but right out in the open road in a very perilous position to himself, and opened fire, with the result as above stated, the rest of the enemy advance party of an estimated number of 60, retreating in wild disorder.

"Charlie," who is now only 21 years, has also seen 3 years' active service abroad, and was twice badly gassed at Paschendaele.”