23/07/1915- To 17 Depot as Private
1/08/1915- To 16th Battalion 9th Reinforcements
10/12/1915- Admitted 4th Aux Hospital Abbassia Egypt ( Mumps )
8/11/1916- Joined 16th Battalion in the field Ismailia Egypt
3/03/1916- Transferred 48th Battalion in the field Tel-el-Kebir Egypt
9/03/1916- Appointed TEMPORARY LANCE CORPORAL Tel-el-Kebir Egypt
27/05/1916- Promoted  CORPORAL in the field Egypt
9/06/1916- Disembarked Marseilles France ex Alexandria Egypt
6/08/1916- Wounded in Action France ( Gunshot Wound Scalp ) ex 2nd Australian Field Ambulance
8/08/1916- Admitted 8th Stationary Hospital Wimereux France
2/09/1916- To Base Depot Boulogne France ex Hospital
23/09/1916- Rejoined Unit in the field France ex 4th Australian Division Base Depot Etaples France
5/12/1916- Promoted SERGEANT in the field France
1/01/1917- Admitted 1st Australian Division Hospital Bulford France ( Sickness )- Whilst on Leave
16/02/1917- To No. 1 Command Depot Perham Downs England
23/03/1917- Transferred 70 th Battalion Wareham England
29/04/1917- Proceeded Overseas 4th Australian Division Base Depot Etaples France ex Folkestone ex Wareham
3/05/1917- Joined Battalion in the field France ex Base Depot
29/08/1917- Awarded  MILITARY  MEDAL
12/10/1917- Wounded in Action France ( Gunshot Wound Eyelid, left Arm & Chest )
14/10/1917- Admitted 12th General Hospital Rouen France ex 10th Casualty Clearing Station
20/10/1917- Evacuated/Admitted Bath War Hospital England
17/11/1917- Granted Leave England
1/12/1917- To No. 1 Command Depot Sutton Veny England ex Leave
15/12/1917- To Overseas Training Brigade Longbridge Deverill England
23/01/1918- Proceeded Overseas Australian Infantry Base Depot Havre France ex Southampton ex Longbridge Deverill
29/01/1918- Rejoined Battalion in the field France ex Base Depot
27/03/1918- Promoted TEMPORARY COMPANY SERGEANT  MAJOR  in the field France
9/04/1918- Awarded  BAR  TO  MILITARY  MEDAL
2/05/1918- To School of Musketry Hayling Island England
12/05/1918- Reverts to Rank Sergeant ex Musketry School
24/05/1918-   To Administration Headquarters Tidworth England
1/06/1918- Admitted Alexandra Hospital Cosham England ( PUO )
12/06/1918- To School of Musketry England ex Hospital
29/06/1918- Proceeded Overseas France ex Folkestone ex Tidworth
1/07/1918- Rejoined Battalion in the field France ex Base Depot
25/09/1918- Recommended  SECOND BAR TO MILITARY MEDAL
28/09/1918- Promoted COMPANY  SERGEANT  MAJOR ( WO 11 ) in the field France
26/10/1918- Granted Leave England
7/11/1918- Rejoined Battalion in the field France ex Leave
20/12/1918- Granted Leave Paris
11/01/1919- Admitted 39th General Hospital Havre France ( Sickness )
16/01/1919- Evacuated/Admitted 1st Australian Division Hospital Bulford England
16/06/1919- To No. 4 Command Depot Hurdcott England for Return to Australia
12/07/1919- Embarked England for Australia per ” City of Exeter ”
16/08/1919- Disembarked Fremantle
16/10/1919- Discharged from Service

MILITARY  MEDAL

Date  of  Recommendation :  29 August 1917

Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette :  14 February 1918

Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette : Page 284,  Position  15

Date of London Gazette : 18 October 1917

Location in London Gazette : Page 10731,  Position 1.

BAR  TO  MILITARY  MEDAL

Date of Recommendation : 9 April 1918

 ” For Gallantry and Devotion to Duty.  At ALBERT on 5th April while acting as Company Sergeant Major he rendered excellent service during the heavy bombardment that preceded the attack by moving up and down the line encouraging his men.  When a withdrawal was ordered later , he showed exemplary coolness and gallantry in controlling the movements of his sections and effecting an orderly withdrawal “.

Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette : 27 November 1918

Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette : Page  2263,  Position  97

Date of London Gazette : 16 July 1918

Location in London Gazette : Page  8309,  Position  1.

SECOND  BAR  TO  MILTARY  MEDAL ( The Second Bar was recommended, however it appears was never approved )

Date  of  Recommendation  :  25 September 1918

 ” For conspicuous Gallantry and Devotion to Duty during the advance near LE VERCUIER on 18th September 1918.  Sgt. ALCORN moved amongst his platoon assisting to overcome opposition as it mgs met.  His coolness and daring greatly inspired his platoon.  He led two Bombing parties during the operations, in each case successfully overcoming the enemy opposition.  His work throughout was of the greatest assistance to his Company Commander , and his energetic conduct was the means of assisting to break down the enemy’s resistance.  His courage and daring created  a marked confidence in his men and his initiative was the means of preventing a number of casualties “.

SERVICE MEDALS AWARDED

1914/15 Star – No. 2920

British War Medal – No. 4826

Victory Medal – No. 4817

Military Medal

Bar to Military Medal

Second Bar to Military Medal

Information from Barry WHEALS, Bunbury WA-Extracts from Copy of letter written by Pte. ALCORN from Egypt on 21st November 1915 to his sister Sarah:-
” Just a few lines to let you know I am still in the land of the living and am in good health.  We haven’t been told when we are going to the trenches but expect to go any day. Our Officer told us to keep our Rifles in good order as we might want to use them any time , so that seems like business, don’t it.  I had arranged with the rest of the Collie Boys to go and have a look at the Citadel this afternoon , but I was unlucky enough to be picked for guard this morning so had to stop in Camp, so I will be lucky if I see it now.  I was talking to Frank HALL, Jack TREWELLA, and George GAMBLE today and they all look real well.  Sam GAMBLE is in the Luna Park Hospital with Rheumatics  but I hear he is getting alright- wants to go back to the trenches.  Alex McCAUGHAN is in the same Hospital with Dysentry , he was in the trenches for 28 weeks and never got a scratch, he is a Collie Boy.  I have sent a good few views of Cairo home, so if you go up at Xmas you will be able to have a good look at them.  I have been broke since I arrived but we are getting paid again this week, so I will be on velvet again.  This morning, Sunday, the bugle sounded get out of bed at half past five and have breakfast at six.  It would be nice to be at home so I could have a sleep in, we have to get up at five thirty every morning.  We expect to see  Joe ANNESLEY and Charlie HUTTON here anytime this week.  They are expected to land at Suez tomorrow. I hope they have got some news of some sort as we haven’t heard from Australia since we left Fremantle six and a half weeks ago “.