'Awarded the Victoria Cross in July 1918, East of Villers-Bretonneux in France, Albert Chalmers Borella led a platoon in an attack to straighten the front line from which a major British offensive was to be launched a few weeks later. While ahead of his troops, he single-handedly captured a machine-gun. Then, after clearing a trench and dug-outs, he inspired his men to hold out during heavy enemy counter-attacks. Borella had earlier received the Military Medal and been Mentioned in Despatches.
'Although he had enlisted in Townsville (from Darwin), after the war he lived in Victoria as a farmer. Borella also served in the Second World War, and afterwards settled in Albury, New South Wales.
'Written as a biography of Albert Borella VC’s fortunate and extraordinary life, this book encompasses a concise history of the 26th Battalion AIF. Borella spent the entire First World War with the battalion, apart from times of leave or rehabilitation.' (Publication summary)
