Forgotten Heroes - Lieutenant George Ingram. V.C.

Lieutenant George Ingram, 24th Battalion, Victoria Cross action at Montbrehain, east of Peronne, France.

Born at Bendigo, Victoria, George Ingram was a carpenter before joining the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force for service in New Guinea, then enlisting in the AIF. He arrived in France in early 1917. He was awarded the Military Medal for his work near Bapaume two months later.

Ingram was a tall, well-built man and despite illnesses which hospitalised him several times, was in fine form when his battalion took part in the last Australian infantry action of the war, the attack on Montbrehain on 5 October 1918 . When the battalion came under heavy fire, Ingram rushed an enemy post and captured nine machine-guns, killing 42 of the enemy in the process. Several more times throughout the day he displayed great courage, capturing posts and many more prisoners.

After the war Ingram worked as a building foreman and a farmer in Victoria. During the Second World War he served with the Royal Australian Engineers, attaining the rank of captain.

Ingram received the Victoria Cross, the Military Medal, service medals for the First and Second World Wars, and coronation medals for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.