Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

2/6th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Army

Awarded on:

November 11th, 1943

Citation:
Pte WELSH served in Greece and was captured in Crete. He succeeded in escaping from a Camp in Crete but voluntarily returned after an attempt to escape in a boat had been frustrated by a German Air Patrol. He was then taken in a transport to SALONIKA where the prisoners were disembarked. Welsh, when he subsequently escaped brought back a considerable amount of information from his observations on this voyage, concerning coastal batteries in the Gulf of KAHLKIS and on the Gulf to the north of the Island of EUBOA, together with information concerning ships at anchor in SALONIKA Harbour, all of which information was great value at the time.
On 13 July 1941 whilst at a Prison Camp near SALONIKA, Pte WELSH with many others made an attempt to escape through a sewer, the attempt was frustrated and WELSH was injured by the German Guards. After six days in the hospital he was questioned by the Gestapo but gave them no information and was put into a German Gaol for seven days.
By the 7th August 1941 WELSH had collected some Greek clothes and very ingeniously escaped during the morning fatigue at the Horse Transport Lines. With the help of the Greek Civilians, Police and the Greek Orthodox Priests he and a number of others escaped prisoners managed to make their way to te Turkish Island of IMBROS. They were then taken to TURKEY and were returned to Allied Hands over the border of SYRIA.
The behaviour of WELSH was outstanding. In his two unsuccessful attempts and his final successful escape he displayed outstanding determination, forethought, courage and endurance as well as showing keen powers of observation."

Originally recommended for a Military Medal but downgraded to a MiD.