 As reinforcements from the 9th Battalion began to arrive , Newland was able to repulse a third attack by the Germans . Reorganising the 9th and 12th Battalions , a combined counter @-@ attack was able to be launched and the line recaptured by approximately 11 : 00 . The 12th Battalion had suffered 125 casualties during the engagement , with 66 killed or missing . Whittle and Newland were both subsequently awarded a Victoria Cross for their actions that day ; the pair were the only two permanent members of the Australian military to receive the decoration during the war . 
