By Casey Neill
Healesville’s Forbes family found extra meaning in Anzac Day this year.
Adam, 36, wore his great uncle’s war medals at the Healesville commemorative march on Thursday 25 April, riding proudly in an original 1942 Army Jeep down the main street.
Lance Corporal John Tancoe was born in 1895 and enlisted in 1916 at the age of 20.
He served with the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) in England and France during World War I and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in battle.
Adam’s mother, Anthea, only recently discovered their relative’s heroics “by mistake”.
She explained that John’s wife had died during childbirth so he had no spouse or child to carry on his legacy.
Anthea said an extract from John’s military records detailed the reason he was awarded the Military Medal.
Eight of his 16 fellow stretcher bearers were hit and he rose to the situation and “showed the utmost bravery in dressing the many wounded and carrying them to extemporised shelters”.
“This was done under continuous heavy shell fire,” the extract said.
It said John showed himself “fearless and indefatigable in carrying back many wounded”.
“Owing to half the bearers being casualties the work for the remainder was especially heavy,” it said.
Anthea and her husband Gary sat alongside Adam during the Anzac Day procession and wore her father’s medals proudly.
Lieutenant James Whitbourn Tancoe served in World War II from 1940 to 1945, in Egypt and New Guinea.
