20/08/1914- To 4th Light Horse Regiment as Private
20/05/1915- Embarked Alexandria Egypt with Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces for Gallipoli Peninsula
14/08/1915- Promoted SECOND LIEUTENANT in the field Anzac Gallipoli
15/10/1915- Promoted LIEUTENANT in the field Anzac Gallipoli
25/10/1915- Admitted Field Ambulance Anzac Gallipoli ( Acute Enteritis )
30/10/1915- Evacuated/Admitted 2nd Australian General Hospital Ghezireh Heliopolis Egypt ( Cholecytsitis/Chronic Constipation/Paratyphoid ) ex Hospital Ship Gallipoli
20/01/1916- Embarked Suez for Australia per ” Karoola ” ( Medical Board Report-Medically Unfit for Active Service )
21/02/1916- Disembarked Melbourne
14/06/1916- Returned to Duty as C/O Light Horse Camp Seymour VIC
24/11/1916- Discharged from Service ( Medically Unfit )
RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD – MILTARY CROSS
Refer Despatch No. 33 dated 29 October 1915 sent to Australian Headquarters
” Lt. DRYSDALE- 4th Light Horse- Was recommended for Immediate Recognition ( M.C. )- the application was returned by GHQ as not good enough for immediate recognition and to be submitted as an ordinary Recommendation with next Despatches “.
FURTHER INFORMATION FROM AUTHOR- REFER SERVICE FILE ON NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA
Following are excerpts from letters written by Lieut. DRYSDALE to Military Headquarters Melbourne, VIC :-
( 1 )- Letter Dated 3/02/1921- ” I understand that Members of the AIF who were recommended for Distinction in the field and failed to get them are being issued with Certificates. If so, I should be entitled to one having been recommended while in the Front Line on Gallipoli. The Officer who recommended me was the then C. O. 4th Light Horse ( Which Unit I was serving with ) namely COLONEL S. ARMSTRONG who is at present in Melbourne & still connected with Light Horse. He informed DHQ to this effect on his return as during my service with I.D.G.S mention was made of the fact by my Senior Officer MAJOR HOGAN in one of his reports after COL. ARMSTRONG had personally informed him “.
( 2 )- Letter Dated 5/08/1953- ” Recommended for bringing in PTE. L. BROWNING of ” B ” Squadron 4th Light Horse from LEANE’S TRENCH after he was fatally wounded. I was invalided a few days later and returned to Australia after some Months in Hospital. On return of Regiment, COL. ARMSTRONG 4th Light Horse informed me that the Recommendation went through Regimental Orders, but as we were not really attached to any Division, but sent from one Brigade Infantry to another, there was some difficulty in getting it to HQ for verification, hence was never dealt with as far as COL. ARMSTRONG knew. I asked him if there was a copy of it I could get, and he assured me he would get it, but I never received it. I would be glad if it were possible to let me have one “.
( 3 )- Letter Dated – 11/07/1967- I was Permanent General Staff Officer and transferred to Camp Headquarters Seymour VIC as ADJUTANT for Main Camp and Staff Officer for Training. later I was appointed Intelligence Officer Genral Staff Victoria Barracks Melbourne. When my Health broke down , I was put on Reserve List & TPI Officer. I am nearly Blind and a cripple “.
DRYSDALE had rejoined the Australian Army on 15/12/1918 as a TEMPORARY LIEUTENANT- Reserve of Officers ( Cav ) 20th Light Horse Regiment 2nd Cav Division. His appointment was terminated on 1/10/1937.
AUTHOR’S NOTES
There is no indication on LIEUT. DRYSDALE’S National Archives File that the Army ever replied to his 3 letters as listed above. There is no doubt that he performed an act of Bravery and Devotion to Duty by bringing in Pte. L. BROWNING from LEANE’S TRENCH- a fact acknowledged by COL. ARMSTRONG recommending immediate recognition by the Award of a MILTARY CROSS. Despite this request being declined, there was an impicit Instruction in Despatch No. 33 that a further recommendation should be sent with next despatches.
It appears that COL. ARMSTONG has not followed this instruction, as there is no record of a Mention in Despatches for LIEUT DRYSDALE.
COL. ARMSTONG had promised DRYSDALE that he would follow up this matter, and DRYSDALE’S action must have been a significant Act of Bravery, for ARMSTRONG to have advised details to MAJOR HOGAN.
It is a sad reflection on both ARMSTRONG & HOGAN, that neither of these men were pro-active in seeking the Award of Recognition for DRYSDALE, who undoubtedly felt let down, and carried the disappointment to his grave “.