"The Last Post has sounded, you have laid aside your gun. Called Home"
Awarded Military Medal 02 November 1918
'On the 10th August 1918, the area in the village of Harbonnieres in which the Headquarters of this Brigade was situated was under fire from a 9.2. H.V. gun. The shells fell close about the area in which the signal station was situated and the men were ordered to a place of safety. One shell burst immediately in front of the cottage in which the horses were situated. Gunner Mearns remained at great personal risk and displayed great determination and gallantry and brought the horses of the Signal wagon into safety. He did this unaided notwithstanding the continuance of the demoralising fire from the heavy gun. One shell from this gun entirely demolished the cottage adjoining the one from which he was getting the horses while he was doing so. This man has always shown great coolness and gallantry under fire and has frequently been brought to notice whilst performing his duties as a runner on the Brigade Headquarters.'
Awarded Croix de Guerre (Belgium) 11 January 1919
Returned to Australia 10 June 1919 per 'Runic'
Courtesy of Gwen Murrell
'On the 10th August 1918, the area in the village of Harbonnieres in which the Headquarters of this Brigade was situated was under fire from a 9.2. H.V. gun. The shells fell close about the area in which the signal station was situated and the men were ordered to a place of safety. One shell burst immediately in front of the cottage in which the horses were situated. Gunner Mearns remained at great personal risk and displayed great determination and gallantry and brought the horses of the Signal wagon into safety. He did this unaided notwithstanding the continuance of the demoralising fire from the heavy gun. One shell from this gun entirely demolished the cottage adjoining the one from which he was getting the horses while he was doing so. This man has always shown great coolness and gallantry under fire and has frequently been brought to notice whilst performing his duties as a runner on the Brigade Headquarters.'
Awarded Croix de Guerre (Belgium) 11 January 1919
Returned to Australia 10 June 1919 per 'Runic'
Courtesy of Gwen Murrell