New Medal Groups

Early Vietnam 1966 KIA Valour Grouping to James Mitchell Cornett

No 25367148 Private First Class James Mitchell Cornett was born on May 10, 1943, and was originally from Elizabethton, Tennessee. He served his country in the Vietnam War in the United States Army, as an Infantryman in Alpha Company 1^st Battalion, 26^th Infantry, 1^st Infantry Division, His tour began on September 25, 1965. Nearly 6 months later, on March 24, 1966, PFC Cornett was killed under hostile conditions in Binh Duong province, South Vietnam; he was 22 years old at the time of his death. PFC Cornett is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 6E, Line 46

The grouping consists of the following;

Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Vietnam campaign medals, name tag and Infantry Combat badge.

Official Award Documents for both Bronze Star and his Purple Heart in official padded booklet.

Various original cloth patches including Airborne patches (One article states that he transferred to the 173^rd Airborne”

Military I.D. and many original photographs in Vietnam

Basic training book from 1962

1965 original Discharge paper where he transferred to the reserves.

Numerous newspaper clippings including one of his parents receiving the Bronze Star.

Over 50 letters to him from family and several from him to them where he describes “loosing men like they are going out of style” along with killing two V.C.

A letter from the White House and several letters from his Congressman.

An amazing collection showing the complete story one man’s heroic life from enlistment until his death in Vietnam.

VF – EF SOLD

FAMILY GROUPING OF FATHER AND SON

GROUP 1: Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 3583 PTE G. A. KENNEDY 2/BN AIF.

Previous service stated as 3 years “Aust. Garrison Artillery”

EMB: 2^nd November 1915

Transferred to 54^th Battalion before joining the 5^th Pioneer Battalion in March 1916

WIA: 11th March 1917 "Gun Shot Wound, Head"

Subsequently transferred to 2^nd D.A.C. due to wounding

Admitted to 6^th A. F. Amb. 3rd January 1919 “Septic Leg”

RTA: classed as “invalided” arriving in Sydney 1^st June 1919 and discharged “permanently unfit”

GROUP 2: Four: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star. Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939/45 all medals correctly impressed to NX1098 A. KENNEDY

Note: Due to Albert Kennedy’s file not being opened at this stage, all we can ascertain is that he enlisted on the 18th October 1939 and served as a Sapper with the 6^th Division Engineers. Discharging 18^th May 1942 with the fighting still going on may be due to an injury or wound he obtained in Africa. Further research required.

Good VF $1350

Single: India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (1054 Pte. J. Maisy 2d. Bn. L’pool R.)

Note: J. Maisy is listed as ‘dead’ on the medal roll. Sold with copied medal roll extract (medal issued to ‘Thomas Maisy, Bluebury, Berkshire’)

Light Scratches to Queens neck VF $525

Single: India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (890 Pte. W. Fell 2d. Bn. L’pool R.)

Minor edge nicks, nearly extremely fine $485

Single: Abyssinia 1867 (R. G. Slade Carprs. Crew H.M.S. Dryad

                                                                                                             Jeweller cleaned good very fine $985

Single: Abyssinia 1867 (757 A. Jones H.M. 45th Regt.

                                                                                                                       Jeweller cleaned very fine $950

Single: Afghanistan 1878-80, correctly chisel engraved to B/156. PTE. W. SEALEY. 66th Foot.

Note: Confirmed on roll with clasp Kandahar 1^st Sept. 80.

Roll further states “Crossed Frontier Feb. 1880. Sick at Quetta. At Sibi”

A rare medal converted into menu holder to a surviving member of the 66^th who survived solely because he was sick when the rest of his unit was massacred.

Good very fine $725

Single: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (2496. Pte. Sterry. 19th Husrs.)

Pitting, nearly very fine $525

Single: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Suakin 1884, El-Teb_Tamaai (3035. Pte. F. Carter. 19th H...sars.)

Pitting polished out good  fine $625

Single: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (2499. Pte. W. Smith. 19th Husrs.)

Contact marks, therefore nearly very fine $575

Single: QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899 three clasps : CC,OFS,T." impressed 488 TPR. C. A. WORSFOLD S.A.C.

Note: Worsfold was a Farrier Sergeant in “A” Division and is noted as having died of Enteric fever at Bloemhof on 20th May 1902. All three bars are confirmed on the medal roll.

Edge knock otherwise VF $445

Single: QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899 two clasps "CC, SA 02" Impressed 39270 PTE. W. WILSON. 140^TH IMP: YEO: COY

Note: Private Wilson was a member of 140th (Fincastle's Horse) Company. This was part of the second contingent who saw action late in the war against the "Bitter Enders", the Boers who had elected to fight on. Fincastle’s Horse was used as mounted infantry for reconnaissance work, very mobile, fast scouting units and capable of fighting alongside regular army when required.

Good VF $355

Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 3146 DVR. J. F. DAVIS 1/F.A. BDE AIF.

Previous Military service stated as “Rifle Club Tumbarumba”

EMB: 21^st November 1914

Admitted hospital Mena 4^th April 1915 “Sick”

Transferred to 1^st Battery 11^th July 1915 Gallipoli Peninsula

RTA: Invalided on the 3^rd September 1915 “for discharge in Australia”

Discharged: 27^th December 1915 2^nd Military District

Note: Due to Driver Davis’s early discharge he becomes a member of the initial RSL club the “Returned Servicemen’s Association” (RSA) of New South Wales of which his rare original badge numbered 548 is included. Also included is a Political Labor League (NSW) 1915 silver jubilee badge/fob and a 1937 Coronation medallion both belonging to him.

Good VF SOLD

Pair: British War Medal and Victory Medal impressed to 34604 GNR. D. C. ARMSTRONG 4 D.A.C. A.I.F.

Cane Farmer Douglas Cave Armstrong enlisted in Cairns Qld 4^th November 1916

Emb: 21^st June 1917

Transferred to 11^th F. A. Bde 4^th November 1917

RTA: 23^rd September 1919

Note: Gunner Armstrong applied for his medals in the U.K. in 1939 where he resided at that time.

 Good Very Fine $375

Pair: British War Medal and Victory Medal impressed to 276 CPL E. S. HEITHERSAY 9/L. H. REGT. A.I.F. (missing 1914/15 Star)

Previous service listed as “S. A. Police 7 months resigned 8-8-09”

Emb: 11^th February 1915

Proceeded to join M.E.F. Gallipoli 16^th May 1915

8^th July 1915 (admitted to hospital at ANZAC) “Rupture Hernia” resulting in being sent to UK 18^th Sept.1915

On command at Royal Small Arms Factory 27^th January 1916

RTA: 4^th May 1917 “for duty in small arms factory”

Discharged 15^th July 1917 in the 4^th Military District

Note: Due to Corporal Edgar Stocks Heithersay’s occupation in civil life as a Mining Engineer in WA & SA he was one of eight A.I.F. members chosen for “a course of instruction as Barrel Straighteners at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield”. These men on completion of their course were returned to Australia to take up duties at Lithgow factory.

 Very Fine $525

Pair: Queens Korea Medal and United Nations Korea Medal. All medals correctly impressed to 26166 P. E. Griffith.

Peter Edward Griffith was born in Sydney, N.S.W. on 8 August 1925. He served in the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 25 July 1953-6 April 1954.

Near EF $525

Pair: Vietnam Medal and Vietnam Star with 1960- clasp to A56467 WELLS R. L. with both medals correctly Airforce style named.

The Vietnam Veterans Nominal Roll states the following;

Name: Raymond Lionel Wells

Date of Birth: 15/11/1943

Place of Birth: Perth, Western Australia

Service: RAAF

Rank: Corporal

Served with Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (RAAF Element) from 12^th June 1966 to 15^th May 1967

VF $525