New Medal Groups

Family Grouping:

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 6846 A-CPL (PTE ON VICTORY MEDAL) R. J. WATSON 2 BN AIF

EMB: 8^th November 1916

WIA/KIA: Initially classed as wounded 6^th November 1917, then reported wounded/missing before he was finally reported Killed in Action after a court of inquiry into his death.

Private Harris from his battalion gave the following statement in reference to Cpl Watson’s death; “Watson was buried by shell at Passchendaele on the 6^th November with McDonald, Sutcliffe and Cox. I helped to dig them out and buried them behind the trench which was just in rear of village.”

Confirming Private Harris’s statement to be true and correct, Cpl Watson’s body was exhumed at the first possible opportunity and he now rests in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery (six and half miles N. E. from Ypres).

Also comes with a British War and Victory Medal (pair) correctly impressed to 181003 GNR J. W. S. WATSON R. A. Medal roll confirms this to be the full entitlement to John William Stewart Watson who is believed to be Robert’s brother. Further research required

VF $775

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 1576 L/CPL T. KELLEHER 9 BN AIF.

EMB: 13^th February 1915 with the 9^th Battalion

RTA: 4^th May 1915 for reasons unknown (due to this part of the file missing). The 9^th Battalion was in the initial waves at the landing at Gallipoli and by the 4^th May it is possible that slightly wounded or stable wounded could have been sent home to recover (depending on the wound). There is no reference to a charge appearing later on in his service and a wound or injury seems the only likely event that once recovered would carry no prejudice on re-enlistment.

EMB: Now as number 2487 with the 8^th BN on the 16^th July 1915

Absent without Leave on the 16^th August until apprehended by the Military Police. Also for using threatening language to a superior and attempting to escape. Sentenced 28 days detention as of the 13 September 1915

Taken on strength at Lemnos on the 31^st October 1915 heading for Gallipoli. We can only assume he reached Gallipoli with nearly two months left of fighting before the evacuation and the next entry in his records show him disembarking at Alexandria on the 7^th of January 1916 with the rest of Gallipoli’s evacuated force.

Transferred to the 57^th BN on the 22^nd March 1916

KIA: 25^th October 1917 Belgium. Unfortunately no body was recovered for Thomas Keleher and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.

Note: A letter on file from his mother alerts us to the sad fact that his brother number 2696 Private James Martin Keleher 3^rd BN AIF was also killed in action the year before on the 25^th of July 1916 at Villers-Bretonneux

When searching records for Thomas Kelleher he may appear under his second number 2487 and the family surname is spelt with one “L”. Missing 1914/15 star based on previous enlistment. On the surface he was a very interesting man and hopefully with good research his full story will be discovered.

VF $625

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 3900 PTE M. J. RYAN 25 BN AIF.

Previous Service:

EMB: 31st January 1916

25^th November 1916 to hospital listed as “trench feet”

Whilst in hospital it appears his behaviour is that of someone who has shell shock. Concluding “delusional insanity” and his file reports many of his delusional ranting such as his belief “the staff of the mental ward were leaders of the black hand gang” he also admits to hearing noises in his head and voices at the tip of his tongue that have “power” over him, especially at night.

RTA: 18^th September 1917 Mental deficiency (for change)

Amazingly he was accepted back in service as part of the Sea Transport staff in October 1918 accompanying and helping the troops on their embarkation.

Note: Private Ryan’s records contain 73 pages with many of his various rants and delusions recorded giving us a very descriptive insight into his situation and also the medical assessments at the time

Near EF $425

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 3192 PTE A. KNOTT 27 BN AIF.

Previous Service: 5 years Militia, 4^th Devonshire England

EMB: 12^th January 1916

WIA: 31^st July 1916 (G. S. W Right Leg)

2^nd WIA: 28^th February 1917 (Gunshot wound face)

RTA: 13^th April 1919

Note: Clean strong service with two wounds and serving into 1919 from the very start of 1916.

VF+ $545

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 1327 L-CPL D. McCLURE 32 BN AIF.

EMB: 18^th November 1915

WIA: 21^st July 1916 (GSW Back & Hand) classed as dangerously ill at one point and sent home when he eventually became stable.

RTA: 17^th March 1917 and subsequently discharged due to his wounds.

Good VF $425

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 5982 PTE R. E. BARTON 37 BN AIF.

EMB: 28^th July 1916

Admitted to hospital “Trench Fever” 30^th December 1917

WIA: 10^th August 1918 (G.S.W. left calf and buttocks)

RTA: 20^th October 1918 and discharged “Medically unfit” due to wounds

Note: Victory medal was initially returned to sender and then issued in 1923 (not duplicate). The group comes with an original Returned from Active Service badge, a RSL badge, also an unusual  A.I.F. Women’s association badge and a blue enamel sweetheart or possibly lapel badge in the shape of Australia with a rising sun in the centre. Unsure as to whom each badge belongs to, but as they came with the group we assume a close relative if they are not Private Barton’s himself.

Near EF $525

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 5505 DVR E. A. NICHOLSON 1/F.A. BDE AIF

Previous Service: 3 years Naval Cadets

EMB: 11^th October 1915

Accidental Injury whilst on active service in France (crushed foot) 22^nd April 1917

Discharged 13^th January 1920

VF+ $625

Pair: British war medal and Victory medal impressed to 1872 ER-SJT G. H. J. MEYER 9 L. H. R. AIF

Emb: 5^th January 1916

Injured whilst returning from the rifle range on 23^rd February 1918 when a horse lashed out kicking and injuring him on the right foot.

RTA: 10^th July 1919

Note: Sergeant Meyers has very strong service with little break from the start of 1916 to his return well into 1919. Also his medals come in the original box, along with his original Light Horse colour patch which is quite rare in its own right and lovely to see still with the group.

EF $725

PAIR: British War and Coronation Medal, War Medal correctly impressed to 55424 A-CPL W. H. NEVILLE GSR AIF. Coronation medal un-named as issued (War medal is his full WW1 entitlement)

Previous Service stated as: “S. Cadets 51^st 4 years Albert Park” & “C. Forces ASC 2/years Sth Melb”

EMB: 17^th July 1918, 1 to 17 (VIC) Reinforcements

At Cape Town he is classed as dangerously ill from Pneumonia

Discharged: 22^nd February 1919 Medically unfit

Coronation medal awarded for his service to "SEC, VIC COUNTRY ROADS BOARD"

Note: Comes with coronation medal box and a set of early miniatures.

Near EF $285

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 2437 SPR R. W. ULPH 3 TUN COY A.I.F.

EMB: 31^st March 1916 with the No 1 Mining Corps - 2 and 3 Reinforcements (March-April 1916)

Wounded accidently in the foot 27^th October 1917

On the 18^th October 1918 was charged with Mutiny along with 12 others. The official charge read “Joining in a mutiny in Forces belonging to His Majesty’s Australian Imperial Forces in that they in the field on the 25^th September 1918 joined in a mutiny by combining among themselves to disobey the orders of their superior officers in the execution of their duty”

Initially being sentenced to 1 year hard labour (13^th October) after review or appeal it seems it was increased to 2 years (17^th October). Possibly due to their skill as miners they were sent back to the front where they were needed at the same time their sentences were being finalised. After further reviews and postponements they were finally sentenced with loss of pay.

The whole ordeal seemed to be over an order previously given that all soldiers were to carry their pay books on them whilst on the front line. This is well documented and easy to find by searching 2437 Ulph in your search engine and it is well worth a read. A bizarre occurrence over a trivial matter with such a harsh sentence, which by the final outcome it seems was probably agreed with by some in command. One of the members charged was also a DCM winner.

RTA: 3^rd March 1919

VF $575

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 6581 MT-DVR P. SPENCE 7 F. AMB. A.I.F.

Previous Service: 4^th Volunteer Black Watch

EMB: 7^th December 1915

WIA: 6^th August 1916 “S. Wd. Upper Arm Right”

Transferred to 2^nd Motor Transport Coy 1918

RTA: 9^th August 1919

VF $425

Group of Four:1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 39/45. All medals correctly impressed to NX193543 H A G BRINCKLEY

At the time of listing these Private Brinckley’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll;

Enlisted 30^th July 1944 into the Australian Army at Endfield, NSW

Discharged 9^th November 1945

Unit on discharge listed as “9^th Australian Infantry Battalion”

Note: Medals come in box of issue along with his returned from active service badge. Further research required

EF $275

Group of Four:1939/45 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 39/45. All medals correctly impressed to NX33126 M. W. BARTON

At the time of listing these Driver Barton’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll;

Enlisted 20^th June 1940 into the Australian Army at Paddington, NSW

Discharged 26^th October 1945

Unit on discharge listed as “2/103 General Transport Company”

Note: Medals come in box of issue along with original paperwork confirming all four medals. Further research required

EF $245

Group of Four:1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 39/45. All medals correctly impressed to NX92525 P. HARRIGAN

At the time of listing these Signalman Harrigan’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll;

Enlisted 14^th March 1942 into the Australian Army at Paddington, NSW

Discharged 2^nd August 1946

Unit on discharge listed as “13 AUSTRALIAN LINE SECTION”

Note: A quick search on Peter Harrigan turns up the following description on his post war life ; “A cartoonist and illustrator, He lived in Sydney. He is notable for thinking up outstandingly good jokes, according to Blaikie (p.109). After winning the Jimmy Bancks Art Award in 1947 he studied overseas, returning to Australia in 1962. Art Gallery of Western Australia has four original illustrations for a serial dated 1953 acquired from the Sun-Herald , one at least being for an Agatha Christie story and all presumably sent back from overseas.

After joining the Sydney Morning Herald for two years (c.1962-64), Pete Harrigan became the leader page cartoonist on the Brisbane Courier Mail . He contributed to the Bulletin both before and after its takeover by Australian Consolidated Press in 1960, e.g. a not very good supermarket joke 1961 (illus. Lindesay 1979, 297); 'You’ve got to hand it to them; they’ve come a long way since the First Fleet’ (2 Aborigines watching a rocket launch) 1961 (ill. Coleman & Tanner, 183; Rolfe, 302, Swain 148); and The Hollidays [in a beatnik café]. '“Interesting, but I don’t think I’d like to be one!”’ published Bulletin 16 December 1959, original Mitchell Library (D491/81), included in 1999 b/w exhibition at the State Library of New South Wales” Design and Art online.

EF $985

Group of Four:1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 39/45. All medals correctly impressed to 35935 R. R. HERFORT

Enlisted 10^th April 1941 into the Australian Army after transferring from the RAAF reserve (Wireless operator)

Records show the following service overseas as a signalman

OBU, FALL RIVER (New Guinea) 12^th September 1942

OBU, GURNEY (New Guinea) 20^th September 1942

430BU, GURNEY (New Guinea) 30^th October 1942

10 SIGS UNIT, MILNE BAY (New Guinea) 1^st December 1942

Discharged 13^th November 1945 at the rank of Sergeant

Note: Sergeant Herfort was in New Guinea during some of the hardest fighting

VF $345

Group of Five:1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal, Australian Service Medal 39/45 and QE11 Coronation medal. First four medals correctly impressed to V145395 P. R. SMITH. Coronation medal un-named as issued.

Enlisted on the 5^th January 1942 into the Australian Army Canteens Service for service in Port Moresby. Commissioned as Lieutenant shortly after.

Embarked 25th February1943 for PNG

Returned to Australia due to “Dengue” August 1943

Discharged 9^th August 1944 as Captain.

Unit on discharge listed as “3 MD AACS”

Note: Records show previous service in WW1 with 36 H.A.G A.I.F. as regimental number 31424

Coronation medal came with the group and is not confirmed if it was awarded to Captain Smith or a relative.

EF $325

Three: War Medal, Australian Service Medal and Police Long Service Good Conduct Medal (QE11). All medals correctly named to 36801 C. A. F. GIBBS (“CHARLES ARTHUR FENNING GIBBS” on police LSGC)

At the time of listing these medals Flying Officer Gibb’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll;

Enlisted 19^th May 1941 into the Royal Australian Air Force in NSW

Northern Star (Lismore, NSW) dated Tuesday 16^th September 1941 reported the following “Injured in Aircraft Accident: Sgt C. A. F. Gibbs (Sydney).

Discharged 29^th January 1946 as Flying Officer

Unit on discharge listed as “5 COMMUNICATIONS UNIT”

Note: Comes with Police LSGC medal box. Further research required.

VF $250

Three: Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All medals correctly chisel style naming to 37852 FIELDING H. D. G.

At the time of listing these medals Leading Aircraftsman Fielding’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll;

Enlisted 10^th July 1941 into the Royal Australian Air Force at Tamworth

Discharged 30^th November 1945

Unit on discharge listed as “201 Flight”

Note: Comes with photos of recipient and paperwork confirming medal entitlement. Further research required

Near EF $150