British War & Victory Medals
- Name: William Frederick Herman
- Service No: 378
- Unit: AN&MEF
- Naming Details:
- British War Medal impressed - WILLIAM F. HERMAN
- Victory Medal impressed - 378 W.F. HERMAN. OFF. STD. A.N.&.M.E.F.
- Notes: A most unusual combination of medals awarded to an AN&MEF sailor and British Merchant Navy Serviceman.
Additional Information
Record of Service:
William Herman was born in London in 1894. He was serving as an Officers Steward on the P & O Liner S.S Berrima, which at the time was carrying immigrants from the U.K to Australia, when she was requisitioned for military service in August 1914. William was inducted into the Royal Australian Navy on the 12th of August 1914, as an Officers Steward III and allocated Official Number 378.
On the 17th of August 1914 S.S Berrima was commissioned as auxiliary cruiser HMAS Berrima. On the 19th of August 1914 HMAS Berrima left Sydney with 1500 men of the AN&MEF to capture the German New Guinea colonies.
After their success in New Guinea, HMAS Berrima returned to Sydney and was paid off on the 20th of October 1914. George was discharged to shore on the 19th of October 1914 and then continued to serve with the British Merchant Navy throughout WW1.
For his WW1 service George is entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War, Mercantile Marine and Victory Medals. His BWM (awarded in 1919) and Mercantile Marine Medal (awarded in 1921) were awarded to him by the U.K government and he was awarded the 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal by the Australian government.
Notes:
A most unusual combination of medals awarded to an AN&MEF sailor and British Merchant Navy Serviceman.
British War Medal impressed WILLIAM F. HERMAN and Victory Medal impressed 378 W.F. HERMAN. OFF. STD. A.N.&.M.E.F.