   walter "wally" peeler vc, bem (9 august 1887 â 23 may 1968) was an australian recipient of the victoria cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the british and commonwealth armed forces. he was decorated following his actions during the battle of broodseinde in october 1917. then a lance corporal in the australian imperial force, he repeatedly took the lead in the 37th battalion's advance on well-defended german positions, destroying four machine gun posts and killing more than 30 german soldiers during the battle. born in castlemaine, victoria, peeler worked at various jobs in his home town and in the melbourne area before enlisting in the australian imperial force in february 1916. posted to the 3rd pioneer battalion, he arrived on the western front during november. in june 1917, his battalion participated in the assault on messines ridge, where he was lightly wounded. eight days after his victoria cross action, peeler was severely wounded in his right arm and spent the next seven months recuperating in the united kingdom. following the armistice with germany, he was discharged from service with the rank of sergeant in december 1918. peeler re-settled with his family in victoria, and was appointed the inaugural custodian of melbourne's shrine of remembrance in 1934. in
1887_births 1968_deaths Australian_Army_soldiers Australian_World_War_I_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross Australian_military_personnel_of_World_War_II Australian_prisoners_of_war Recipients_of_the_British_Empire_Medal World_War_II_prisoners_of_war_held_by_Japan