ONE HUNDRED YEARS ago, countless brave men and women from across the world fought to save their mates.
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They fought to save their families and their countries.
And they fought to save themselves.
Tuesday marked 100 years to the day Wedderburn soldier Albert Jacka was awarded the Victoria Cross – Australia’s highest military honour.
But hidden among the woodwork of a story of gallantry and bravery was a man who fought alongside Jacka in the very same trench system.
It was in that system that Jacka’s heroics were deemed worthy of the VC.
It was in that same system that Horsham’s Sergeant Bertram Perry would learn from the best, and become one of the best.
They fought for each other like brothers.
It was in the 14th Battalion, D Company during a battle at Messines that Jacka earned his VC honour.
Ballarat historian David Cranage said just to be associated with Jacka was special.
‘‘Jacka was so revered by his men that they called the battallion ‘Jacka’s mob’,’’ he said.
‘‘If you were associated with Jacka’s mob, you were legendary.
‘‘Bert Perry’s connection with Albert Jacka is very powerful.’’
But a few months later, in July 1915, Sgt Perry fell down a cliff and injured his ankle.
He had to return to Australia to recover, but Mr Cranage said it was only a matter of time before the young man willed himself back to the frontline.
‘‘He got back to Horsham and realised he had to go back,’’ he said.
‘‘So he got his leg the best he could get it and then went back to his old battalion.’’
Sgt Perry proved an asset, trusted by his superiors to carry out important missions.
It was in April 1917 – for his actions in the attack on the Hindenburg Line near Reincourt – that Sgt Perry won his first Military Medal.
His recommendation noted his ‘conspicuous good work set a fine example for his men’.
Sgt Perry’s reputation was growing.
In June 1917, returning to the 1915 scene in Messines where Jacka won his VC, Sgt Perry’s actions nearly earned him another Military Medal.
But his recommendation was not signed off on, so he never received it.
Now, in memory of Sgt Perry and his gallant efforts in the First World War, a medal has been struck in his honour.
During April’s Anzac Day Wimmera Football League clash between the Horsham Saints and the Horsham Demons, the medal for best afield was named after Sgt Perry.
Saint Sam Jasper was the inaugural recipient of the medal.
Mr Cranage has hailed the decision to immortalise Sgt Perry.
‘‘It’s lovely that the football has given him the medal because it’s richly deserved,’’ he said.
And Mr Cranage would know.
He knew Sgt Perry better than most.
‘‘He was a rough and tough old bugger,’’ he said.
‘‘He was tough even at 80 years old.
‘‘He should’ve got a second medal. But now he’ll never die because now there is the Bert Perry medal.’’
Mr Cranage said there was one thing that proved Sgt Perry was a wonderful leader.
At the age of 21, away from everything he knew, in the face of fear and danger, Sgt Perry did something special.
‘‘A 21-year-old Perry wrote a letter to a young man’s mother who died saving the rest of the battalion,’’ Mr Cranage said.
‘‘He told her he put himself between an enemy soldier and the battalion.
‘‘He told her they were proud of him.’’