Conversation so far:
How did the Australian Mining Corp start?
David used his advocacy and organisational abilities to set up the Australian Mining Corps.
What year did this happen?
August 1915.
Was this a military endeavor?
David wrote a proposal to Senator George Pearce, the Australian Defence Minister, suggesting that the government raise a military force to undertake mining and tunnelling.
Do you know how old he was when this happened?
25 October 1915 he was appointed as a major, at the age of 57.

Question: So he was in control of it. Did he win any honors or mentions for this?
Self-contained rewrite: So David was in control of the Australian Mining Corps. Did David win any honors or mentions for the Australian Mining Corps?