New Medal Groups

17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers Officer’s Full Dress Schapska c.1912.  A fine quality example, the black patent leather skull complete with all gold lace braiding, white cloth covered sides and trencher top, the top with crossed gold orris cord, the very fine frontal plate in gilt with silver overlays (uncleaned) these include ‘Seventeenth Lancers’ regimental title and battle honours to ‘South Africa 1900-02’, gold wire rosette with ‘GR’ cypher on  blue velvet, correct pattern side ornaments and lined chin chain, correct white horse hair plume with good gilt officers plume holder, wide buff leather sweat band is in very good condition but minus silk attached lining. Silk lining to inside crown of mortar board shows maker in gilt as Hamburger, Rogers & Co.

Overall good condition $6500.00

An extremely rare Australian White cloth helmet attributed to (Lt. Colonel) Sir Frederick Thomas Sargood of the State of Victoria Local Forces circa 1875. Six panel body with an unusual four large pleat puggaree. Good leather sweatband with a good silk attachment liner. Great maker’s label "made in England for A.BOWLEY & Co, Melbourne", leaving no doubt as to the Australian provenance. Complete with named carry tin.

Note: Major F.T. Sargood entered the Volunteer Force in 1859 finally attaining the rank of Lieut. Colonel. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council as the member for South Yarra in 1874. In 1883 he was Minister for Defence and received the CMG in 1884. He was knighted KCMG in 1890. In 1901 was elected member of the Commonwealth Senate and died 1903. This is an exceptionally rare helmet with the rank of Major on the carry tin indicating a very early helmet.

Extremely rare and in very good condition $5850.00

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1902, Cape Colony (5127 Tpr. C. H. THOMPSON, N.Z.M.R. 8th Cont.),

Note: The Cape Colony clasp has been added later, Trooper Thompson may have done further service in a militia unit Like so many colonial soldiers and thus believed he was entitled. Further research required.

Near VF $525

THREE TIMES WOUNDED AT QUINNS POST

Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 1627 DVR J. LAIDLAW 16/BN AIF (L-CPL ON PAIR).

Emb: 22^nd February 1915

WIA: 22^nd May 1915 “Bomb wound Left Elbow and Right Hand” “at the Dardanelles”

2^nd WIA: 27^th May 1915”Abrasions” “at the Dardanelles”

3^rd WIA: 28^th May 1915 “Shrapnel wound fingers” “Again reported wounded”

Whilst there is no dispute over the amount of wounding’s James Laidlaw’s received, records show conflicting entries in regards to the exact day of each wound. This is understandable due the intense fighting which is best put by local author Ian Gill in his book the Bloody Angle stating “this post being deemed the most dangerous in ANZAC”

AWM has the following citation for Driver Laidlaw dated 25^th October 1917;

“Is brought to notice for gallant conduct with a pack mule convoy on the 23^rd October 1917 near BROODSEINDE. When the convoy was nearing BROODSEINDE it ran into an enemy barrage which caused casualties and confusion amongst the men and the mules. Driver Laidlaw, with great coolness and resource, collected the animals that had broken away and helped to re-load the rations from the dead mules to his own, and went on again. He is strongly recommended for distinction”

RTA: 24^th January 1919 (Gallipoli service through to discharging in 1919 making him entitled to wear ANZAC “A”’s)

Note: With the word “Passed” on the citation It is unclear as to what award James Laidlaw received (Mentioned in Despatches, C in C congratulatory card?) as the award column is undecipherable.

VF SOLD

POPE’s VC ACTION

Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 3444 PTE W. PIERCE 11/BN AIF (L-CPL ON PAIR).

POPE’s VC  “On 15 April 1917 at Louverval, France, during the Battle of Lagnicourt,  he was in command of a very important picquet post, with orders to hold it at all costs amidst a heavy German attack. The enemy, in greatly superior numbers, attacked and surrounded the post and ammunition was running short. Pope, in a desperate bid to save the position, was "seen to charge with his men into a superior enemy force, by which they were overpowered", although heavy losses were inflicted. He had "obeyed the order to hold out to the last" and his lifeless body, along with those of most of his men, was found amongst 80 enemy dead.

The 11th Battalion, despite suffering over 245 casualties, was subsequently able to hold their sector of the line. For his actions Pope was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross”

Volume IV, page 373 of Charles Bean’s Official history states the following in regards to Private Pierce in the action;

“Another man, Private W. Pierce (of Perth, W. Aust.), who volunteered to bring ammunition, managed to return with it to his post, though wounded.”

 “MISSING IN ACTION” 16^TH April 1917.

“Wounded and captured Cambrai” later confirmed on German list dated 30^th July 1917

Prisoner of War – Interned Hilfs Lazarett Hohenzollern Park Magdeburg “Extract Post-Card from man dated 4.7.17”

Red Cross file records a postcard from Cpl Pierce now interned at Alten Grabow 1^st December 1917 stating the following;

“My parcels come very good. I could not wish for better. If I want anything I will let you know. I am keeping the best of health.”

Repatriated Prisoner of War 19^th December 1918

RTA: 19^th April 1919

Good VF SOLD

Memorial Plaque: Correct one piece cast named to ARTHUR SILL.

5792 CPL Arthur Sill embarked on the 30^th October 1916 from Fremantle with the 27th Battalion AIF. Address at the time of embarkation was Queens Park, Western Australia

He was Killed in Action on the 9^th October 1917 Ypres Belgium at the age of 27

Unfortunately there is no known grave for Arthur.

Memorial details:  Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium

Slight surface marks otherwise VF $245

Five: 1914/15 Star, British War, Victory Medal, War Medal 1939/45 and ASM 1939/45. WW1 trio correctly impressed to 2201 PTE. W. V. DANIELS 16/BN AIF (CPL ON PAIR) War Medal 1939/45 and ASM 39/45 correctly impressed W30491 W. V. DANIELS

EMB: 25^th June 1915

WIA: 2^nd February 1917 “G. S. W. R-foot, knee, thigh, hand”

Transferred to 4^th Machine Gun Battalion

2^nd WIA: 15^th August 1918 France

Discharged on the 3^rd June 1919 (Gallipoli service through to discharging in 1919 making him entitled to wear ANZAC “A”’s)

Daniel’s continued his service in WW2 as a Sergeant in the “WESTERN AUSTRALIA ECHELON & RECORDS” department.

Note: Comes with original marked 9 CT Gold locket with Daniels’s portrait inside. A further larger version of this photo is also included in a period picture frame.

VF-EF $1225

MAJOR LEWIS ONE OF THREE 2/6^TH TO SURVIVE BORNEO & SANDAKAN

Four: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly named to WX3338 T. T. Lewis

Major Travers Thorold (Peter) Lewis, an architect from Cottesloe, WA, enlisted on 1 May 1940 having previously served in the Militia in the RAE from 1935.

On the outbreak of war he was appointed as a Captain in the 2/2nd Field Company, then on the 14^th November he was given command of the 2/6th Field Park Coy,

He embarked on to Malaya in Jun 1941, and the unit was based in Malacca in support of the two Field Engineer Company’s 8th Division located with the 27th Bde, Segamat sector.

He was promoted to Major on 24^th December and after the 2/30th Battalion ambush at Gemas on 14^th January 1942, 27th Bde conducted a fighting withdrawal to Singapore. The 2/6th Fd Park Coy suffered casualties from Japanese artillery and air attacks, before withdrawing to Singapore on the 9^th February. A further six men of the 2/6th were killed prior to the 8th Division surrendering to the Japanese and the survivors imprisoned in Changi.

Whilst in the Changi camp he played a role in designing the Chapel before being shipped to Borneo on the Ume Maru with ‘B’ Force in July, arriving in Sandakan.

Major Lewis was tasked with building an airfield at Sandakan. The design and construction of the runway was sabotaged and deliberately delayed by the prisoners. The Kempeitai suspected him of being involved in intelligence activities and he was sent to Kuching and jailed for the remainder of the war.

When finally recovered he was suffering malnutrition and temporary blindness and was hospitalized before returning to Australia via Morotai. He was discharged in January 1946, one of 145 WA POW transported to Borneo, and one of seven to have survived. He was one of only three of the 2/6th Fd Park Coy to survive Borneo, with the remainder dying at Sandakan 1 and 2 camps, or on death marches. He returned to architecture post war, and died in Cottesloe, WA on 6 Apr 1955

EF $2450

Four: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All medals correctly named to VX147459 G. W. JACOBS

Sapper Glen William Jacob signed up on the 15^th of October 1943 with the WW2 nominal roll interestingly shows the following as his location on enlistment

The roll shows that he discharged as part of the 4^th Aust Dock’s Opp Coy on the 30^th of October 1945.  At the time of listing these medals, Glen William Jacob’s service records were still sealed and as a result no further information is available about his Pacific service until his file is opened.

Note: With the curious comment stating enlistment in New Guinea, this group has great potential for a fascinating story with further research.

Near EF SOLD

Three: Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. War medal and Australian Service medals are both correctly named to SX17274 R C PLATTEN. Pacific star unnamed as often found in early issues

Private Reginald Colin Platten enlisted on the 10^th of February 1942 at Forrest Gardens, South Australia and discharged with the Mobile Laundry on the 9^th of April 1945.  At the time of listing these medals Private Platten’s service records were still sealed and as a result no further information is available about his Pacific service until his file is opened.

The group comes in its original boxes of issue, along with his medal entitlement paperwork. The paperwork confirms the three awards as his full entitlement at the time of issue. Further research is required

Near EF $150