Langford Wellman Colley-Priest

Langford Wellman Colley-Priest MM (September 1890 – 11/12 February 1928)[2] was an Australian stretcher bearer during the First World War for the 8th Field Ambulance.

[2][3] Prior to his embarkation for Egypt and deployment on the Western Front he resided with his parents in Neutral Bay and worked as a warehouseman.

[4] Colley-Priest enlisted in the 8th Field Ambulance, part of the 8th Infantry Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force, on 19 May 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Ascanius on 9 November, bound for Egypt and the Western Front.

[4][5] While serving, he was deployed at the Somme, Racquinghem, Polygon Wood, Messines, Villers-Bretonneux and Mont Saint-Quentin.

[6] The recommendation for the award noted that he displayed: ... conspicuous gallantry devotion to duty whilst continuously carrying wounded from that post to Belawaarde Ridge under very heavy shellfire of all kinds, H.E., shrapnel and gas shells.

Orders to move off to the trenches to do our bit, all very anxious to be in the "Straffe" (If we only knew) The Sergeant in charge of the party took the wrong road, & we did not arrive at the other dressing station till about 3:30 a.m. Was very tired, no sleep.

The sight at the Dressing Station was terrible, hundreds of wounded men were lying about, some of them not recognisable, they were so shattered & covered in blood.

[12] Members of the Mosman and water police retrieved a portion of a shirt believed to have been worn by Colley-Priest.