When Peter Milliken was six, his Aunties told him about a hero in their family.
Mr Milliken is the great-nephew of William Allen Irwin, a Gomeroi soldier who died in battle during World War 1.
The story of the last minutes of Irwin’s life had been passed down through the family, cherished and protected against reports that denied his heroism.
Now, over a century after his death, his family are fighting to lay him to rest on Country.
Who was William Allen Irwin?
Irwin was born at Forky Mountain, which later became Burra Bee Dee Aboriginal Mission, near Coonabarabran NSW in 1878.
He was the eldest of three brothers who all worked as shearers across towns like Moree, Werris Creek and Quirindi.
At 37-years-old, after a horrible heartbreak, he enlisted to the Australian Imperial Forces.
In May of 1916, he was named one of the original members of the 33rd Battalion - known as 'New England's Own'.
Two years later, Irwin's battalion was deployed to the Battle of Amiens, in an attempt to gain control over German-held territory near Péronne.
In the early light of morning on August 31, in the face of heavy fire Irwin single-handedly took out multiple machine-gun posts, capturing a crew of fifteen German soldiers and three machine guns.
"The battalion had plans to get up a six o'clock in the morning to jump out of the trenches and run at them but they would have been just cut down. But he got up first and took them all," said Mr Milliken.
As he reached the next machine-gun post, he was wounded by shrapnel in his back and thigh. He died from his wounds the following day.
This is the only remaining photo of William Irwin Allen, donated to the War Memorial by his family. AMW2017.995.1.1 Credit: Australian War Memorial
He recounted what he'd seen, explaining that Irwin did it alone, striking before first light.
"It would have been a different story if he didn't do what he did. [It] would have been a bloody battle," said Milliken.
"There's a lot of people up there in New England that wouldn't be there today if he didn't do what he did."
His hidden story
It's believed that the fourth machine-gun post that shot Irwin was taken down by George Cartwright, an English-born soldier who fought alongside Irwin in the 33rd Battalion.
Cartwright is said to have fired on the remaining enemy machine-gun post, wounding an enemy shooter and the two who replaced him before launching a bomb at the post.
On 30 September, he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). After his death, he was commemorated in the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance and his medals were donated to the Imperial War Museum in London.
In comparison, Irwin's feat was celebrated only in September 1918. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, for his "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty".
His medal was later stolen from his family.
William Allen Irwin's name is featured on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial.
"They don't tell that story, they've hidden this guy for 100 years because of George Cartwright.
"If he was a whitefella, he would have been number one up there, he'd be recognised from day one for those actions."
Mr Milliken has given up chasing a VC for his great-uncle, and now has turned his attention to bringing him home.
Currently, Irwin is buried at Daours Communal Cemetery in France.
The family wants him to take his final resting place in Caroona, alongside his two brothers.
"I'm not asking for [the VC] anymore, I'm wanting to bring him home, the whole family wants him back,” he said.
