The PEOPLE Behind the MEDALS

Our collection includes many medals awarded to veterans in recognition of the service they gave, often in overseas conflicts. Most of the medals are connected to veterans who are now no longer with us. Their relatives gave the medals to the RSL to ensure that the owner was not forgotten (some medals were originally given to other RSL Sub Branches and they have found their way to MERSL after those Sub Branches closed). No matter what path each medal took to finally arrive at MERSL, the intention of those families was that their veteran's service is not forgotten.

Each medal awarded to a veteran has their name engraved around its rim, and so we have undertaken research to write a short background about the medal's owner. In that way, MERSL members and visitors can learn something of the person behind the medal, where they served, and a short summary of their life before and after their service. Lest we forget.

Our Medals Project is an ongoing one in which we research and write each story when sufficient information comes to hand. The names listed below are links to each veteran's story:

PTE Joseph DEMPSTER              DVR Andrew GATES