The Maitland RSL sub-branch has launched a campaign to honour the city’s only Victoria Cross recipient, Joseph Maxwell.
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Mr Maxwell fought at Gallipoli in World War I and was awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery and leadership in an attack on the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme line, near Estrees, north of St Quentin in France on October 3, 1918.
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour in the face of the enemy to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries.
There are only 96 Australian recipients of the honour.
Maitland RSL sub-branch vice-president Fred Goode said there had been no recognition of Mr Maxwell in Maitland and that needed to change.
“We put it to council in 2005 that they consider naming a suburb or a new development after him because of the expansion going on in Maitland,” he said.
“We had a letter back saying they would take it into consideration and we left it at that.
“With the centenary of World War I this year and the Anzac Day centenary next year it just seems like the perfect time.”
The mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, said he would support an application.
“I think to honour this man properly it would need to be something quite substantial to commemorate his gallantry,” he said.
“We certainly would be interested in any proposal the community or a specific group put forward.”
Cr Blackmore said the council relied on the public for recommendations.
“We need the support of the community to come forward,” he said.
“In this case, we would rely on the information provided by the RSL so we can say look, this is a significant cause, and support it.”
Mr Maxwell was born in Sydney but moved to Gillieston Heights at an early age.
His name is on the honour roll at Maitland Public School and he lived at West Maitland when he enlisted in 1915.
