New Medal Groups

Four: A Great War 1918 ‘Somme’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private A. F. Allen, 5th Battalion Australian Machine Gun Corps, Australian Imperial Force, who was wounded in action in 1916, 1917 and 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2552 Pte. A. E. Allen. 5/Aust: M.G.C.); 1914-15 Star (2552 Pte. A. F. Allen. 7/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (2552 Pte. A. E. Allen. 7 Bn. A.I.F.) 

M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘Whilst moving into position for attack in front of Villers Bretonneux at 5 a.m. on the morning of 8th August 1918, Private Allen received nasty wounds in the arm. Although in great pain he carried on over an advance of approximately 10 kilometres. Throughout the operation he showed an utter disregard for his personal safety, and by his gallantry, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty he set a splendid example to all ranks. His courage and endurance are worthy of special recognition.’

Edward Albert Allen was born in Wandsworth, London, in 1894. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Seahawk, Victoria, 6 May 1915. Allen embarked for Egypt in H.M.A.T. Anchises, and arrived at Mudros 18 November 1915. He initially served on the strength of the 7th Australian Infantry Battalion, before briefly transferring to the 59th Battalion, and ultimately serving with the Australian Machine Gun Corps from March 1916.

Allen was wounded in action in the French theatre of war, 19 July 1916 and 24 March 1917. He was awarded his M.M. for service with the 5th Battalion Australian Machine Gun Corps, as part of the 5th Australian Division on the Somme, 8 August 1918. He also received his final wound on that date. Allen returned to Australia in SS Main, and was discharged 10 December 1919.

Minor edge nicks, generally very fine or better $4250

Trio:  A Great War 1917 ‘French theatre’ M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant G. J. Irving, 29th Battery, 8th Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, who was also wounded in action, 19 July 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (19852 Bmbr: G. J. Irving. 8/Bde: Aust: F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (19852 A-Sgt. G. J. Irving. 8. F.A.B. A.I.F.) 

M.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘On the morning of 13-5-1917 the 29^th. Battery was subjected to very heavy shell fire by 5.9 shells. Under the orders of the Battery Commander all ranks except himself and these four men had evacuated the position. The Battery Commander and these four men remaining in the close vicinity of the Battery, during the bombardment a number of direct hits were made on the Gun Pits setting fire to three of them and causing the ammunition in the pits to commence to explode. These four men with Major Churchus at once went in to these pits and put out two fires with wet bags. This was done although amounts of 5.9 were at the time landing on the Battery position and the ammunition in the pits was also exploding, about 400 rounds exploding before the fires were extinguished. By the action of Major Churchus and these four men two (2) guns and about 300 rounds of ammunition were undoubtedly saved.’

Good very fine or better $3250

Single: A Great War 1917 ‘French theatre’ M.M. awarded to Lance-Corporal A. Briggs, 20th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for his gallantry with rifle-grenades during a counter-attack at Lagincourt, 15 April 1917. He was wounded in action at Pozieres, 5 August 1916, and received a gunshot wound to the right arm and left knee at Bullecourt, 2 May 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1671 L. Cpl. A. Briggs. 20/Aust: Inf:)  

M.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917 on page 6026 at position 16. The original recommendation states:

‘These men showed great initiative and bravery when their company was held up during the counter-attack near LAGNICOURT on 15^th. April they crawled within 50 yards of the enemy’s strong post and with the use of rifle grenades bombed the enemy out, thus allowing the advance to continue.’

Note: The AWM has embroidery from Lance Corporal Briggs and the following is a copy of their very informative research

"Born in Sydney in 1892, Albert Biggs, who is said to have disliked being called 'Bert Biggs', was working as a labourer when he enlisted in the AIF on 29 May 1915, using the alias Alfred Briggs.

After initial training, Briggs was assigned as a private, service number 1671, to the 2nd reinforcements for 20 Battalion. He left Sydney for overseas service on 19 June, aboard HMAT A61 Kanowna. The battalion trained briefly in Egypt before arriving at Gallipoli in late August, where they defended Russell's Top until they were evacuated to Egypt in December.

The battalion moved to France, for service on the Western Front in April 1916. Briggs was promoted to lance corporal on 14 May but reverted to the rank of private on 16 July at his own request. He received a gunshot wound to his left leg on 5 August, during the battalion's first major action at Pozieres, and was evacuated to the 3rd London General Hospital. 

Two months later Briggs was discharged to the 5th Training Battalion, where he remained until he rejoined the 20th Battalion in France on 19 February 1917. He was promoted to lance corporal on 23 March. On 15 April Briggs was awarded the Military Medal for 'great initiative and bravery', at Lagnicourt.

Briggs was severely wounded during the second battle of Bullecourt, on 5 May, sustaining a penetrating shrapnel wound to his left knee and a severe fracture of the humerus, just above his right elbow. He was evacuated to the 6th Field Ambulance, then to a casualty clearing station, and finally to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen, where he remained until the end of April 1918. On 29 April he was transferred to England, to the Tooting Military Hospital in London. In July Briggs was sent to 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, suffering from disability and a mental condition, to prepare him for his return to Sydney in September. He spent nearly two years at the 4th Australian General Hospital (4 AGH) at Randwick, and convalescent homes, before his discharge from the army on 7 July 1920.

Brigg's wounds permanently fused his left knee, and so damaged the nerves in his right arm that he had very little function in that hand. He was encouraged to take up embroidery as a means of both passing the time and of 'training' his left hand in fine motor skills. This example is thought to have been completed while he was at 4 AGH. While he was in hospital Briggs' wallet and Military Medal were stolen from his bedside locker. A new medal was issued to him, correctly named at his request to 'Biggs'.

Towards the end of his long life Biggs lived with his niece, Emily, and her husband Fred Lees. She made three of her uncle's rehabilitation embroideries into cushions, which were always positioned on her living room sofa. The embroideries were donated to the War Memorial in memory of Albert Biggs.”

Very fine $2000

Pair: Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar (1145. Corpl. H. Wallace. 2/60th. Foot.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1145 Lce. Sergt. H. Wallace 2/60 Foot) 

Henry Wallace was born in 1844 and attested for the 60th Regiment of Foot (King’s Royal Rifle Corps) at the Regimental Headquarters in Winchester on 26 September 1864. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India from 1 November 1867, on garrison duty at various stations within India, and was promoted Corporal, before moving into Afghanistan as part of the Kandahar Field Force in 1878. He served throughout the Second Afghan War, and was present at the Battle of Ahmed Khel, 19 April 1880, and took part in General Roberts’ celebrated 310-mile march from Kabul to relieve Kandahar, defeating the Afghans under Ayub Khan on 1 September 1880. Promoted Lance-Sergeant, the Medal rolls for both awards list him as ‘Dead’.

Sold with medal roll extracts and copy Musters

Extremely fine $1850

Single: BALTIC MEDAL 1854 un-named as issued

 VF $400

Single: Abyssinia 1867 correct raised naming to 234 SERGT. P. GILLIGAN 26^TH REGT

Contact marks in central disc, otherwise good very fine $950

Pair: QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899 two clasps "Belfast & Defence of Ladysmith", KSA two clasps.5290 PTE H. MARSLAND MANCHESTER REGT

 VF $675

Single: Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, “Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill & Belfast” 11048 DR. W BROWN A.S.C. correct cavalry style engraving

Good very fine $595

Single: Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, three clasps "CC, OFS, T" impressed 253 Pte. J. HENDERSON, Queensland I. B.

Note: 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen roll shows his Christian name as “Henry” Henderson despite medal being named to a “J” Henderson.

EF $1250

Pair: 1914/15 Star and British War medal (missing Victory medal). Both correctly impressed to 513 PTE B. BOOKER 27/BN A.I.F.

Previous service: 76^th A.R. (Infantry) two and a half years (still serving on enlistment)

 Emb. 31^st May 1915

Sick: 9^th August 1915 Diarrhoea Gallipoli 

9^th September 1915 sick to Lemnos

Admitted 3^rd London General Hospital 27^th October 1915 diagnosed with Rheumatism

RTA: 19^th January 1916 discharged “Medically Unfit” 4^th M.D.

VF $385

PAIR: British War Medal 1914-18 and Victory Medal 1914-19 correctly impressed to 4471 Pte F. Lee. 28 Bn A.I.F.

Frank Lee, farmer at Gnowangerup in WA, age 21, born at Sheffield in Yorkshire, England

Enl; 5^th February 1916 at Tambellup, WA

Emb; 31^st March 1916

TOS; 30^th October 1916 France 28^th Battalion

WIA; 3^rd November 1916 “GSW Left arm” France

Discharged  30^th August 1919; Died 13 September 1982

Together with Certificate of Sheffield Education, Certificate of Merit to Frank Lee at St Georges National School 1906, another at St Georges Church of England School 1907, both in gold blocked, red leather holders; original Certificate of Discharge; badge for Cannington Lodge W.A.C. No.205 reverse inscribed “Frank Lee”; Everyman’s diary for 1945, only a few entries and nearly new condition; large photo of Frank and Florence Lee c1930-1940

Very Fine $745

PAIR: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19 correctly impressed to 1706 Pte J. Ross. 51 Bn. A.I.F. Together with Death Plaque correctly named to Jerome Ross and in the original fold-over cardboard pack of issue.

Jerome Ross, labourer, age 21 born at Southern Cross, WA;

Enl.12Jan1916 at Melbourne, Vic;

Emb.17Apr1916;

DOW at 1st CCS on 03Jul1916, the wounds received in action GSW bullet penetrating abdomen, France; 

Buried at Estaires Communal Cemetery by Rev P. J. Griffin.

Sold with research and photos of grave.

Display mounted, extremely fine $975