University of Sydney presented him with a wristwatch. and was posted to the 19th Battalion, then stationed on the Western Front in France, in mid-November 1916. He was wounded in the thigh during fighting at Flers, on the Somme, within days of joining the battalion. Promoted to lieutenant in January 1917, he was wounded again, in the ankle, in October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele while on the Menin Road. The following month, having returned to duty, he was given temporary command of a company. In March 1918, the Germans began their Spring Offensive and the 19th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Division, helped in shoring up the front-lines as the Germans advanced. On 7 April 1918, while holding the lines near Villers-Bretonneux, his company, with Storkey as its second-in-command, was sent forward to clear Hangard Wood, believed to be lightly held by the enemy. The company commenced its advance early in the morning after a covering artillery barrage lifted, but Storkey had fallen asleep and was left behind at the starting line. He shortly woke and quickly caught up with the advance, about ahead. By this time, machine gun fire had caused a quarter of the company to become casualties, including its commander, Captain Clarrie Wallach. Taking command, Storkey led a small party on a foray to outflank the machine gun post that was holding up the advance. Despite being detected as they approached, he seized the initiative and led a prompt charge that saw his party capture a machine gun along with 50 Germans and killing or wounding about 30 more. His conduct leading the attack had deceived the Germans into believing the size of the force facing them was much larger than it was. The position secured, the Australians pushed on further into the wood but were unable to locate their objective. Storkey, considering the available options for cover too exposed, opted to withdraw the company back to their starting positions. On reporting to his battalion commander, he was ordered to retake the position but advised that he had too few men to so. His explanation was accepted and Storkey returned to his trench. Over 150 soldiers of the company had become casualties of the attack, but it had resulted in useful information on the German forces at Hangard Wood. For his actions at Hangard Wood, he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). At the