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Family grouping, Group One: Military Cross, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal.

Military Cross period engraved to "LIEUT. T. N. W. B. STEELE 49TH BATT. A.I.F. MOUQUET FARM SEPT 1ST - 6TH 1916". 1914/15 star impressed to 74 PTE T. N. W. B. STEELE 11/L. H. RGT. A.I.F. British War Medal and Victory Medal impressed to Captain T. N. W. B. Steele AIF.  Pacific Star, War medal and Australian Service Medal 1939/45 all impressed in the early small capital letter issue to NX137273 T. N. W. B. Steele.

Emb. 2 June 1915

Transferred to the 2nd Light Horse 29th August 1915 whilst on Gallipoli

Transferred again after Gallipoli to the 49th Bn. as an Officer.

Wins the Military Cross September 1916 "Mouquet Farm"

London Gazette 14th November 1916

RTA 16th April 1918

Captain Steeles WW2 record states that he was part of Eastern Command when he discharged after having been to the Pacific theatre of war.

A very important group to a soldier who rose through the ranks with the light horse in Gallipoli, recognised for his leadership and gallantry and then went on to serve overseas in WW2.

Complete with various silver pens, vesta, lighter and card case. All with initials or monogram.

Second group to the son of Captain Steele M.C.

Group of four 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star (late style period official engraved),War Medal 1939/45 and Australian Service Medal (officially impressed) to NX51099  R.B.Steele who served in the 2/6th Australian Armoured Regiment who with their tanks were involved in the actions at Buna and Sanananda.

He is noted on the roll of the Regimental book "The Vital Factor" which gives an excellent account of Australia's first tank action for WW2 in PNG making his group of 4 that much more interesting.

Complete with excellent photo, Discharge paper and one of his colour patches.  

Good VF SOLD

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

FAMILY GROUPING;

Pair: War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All medals correctly named to S212133 L. W. SANDO

Enlisted 27^th September 1939 into the Australian Army at Echunga, SA

Discharged 6^th Jan 1944 as a Captain

Unit on discharge listed as “HQ (WE) 4MD”

Note: Captain Sando’s record is open and shows WW1 service as a Sergeant with the 48^th Battalion number 3304 and entitled to WW1 trio

2^nd Pair: Defence Medal and War Medal All medals correctly named to SX14678 V. G. SANDO

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

Enlisted 25^th September 1941 into the Australian Army at Clarence Park, SA

Discharged 29^th November 1945

Unit on discharge listed as “1 AUST BULK PET STORAGE COY”

Note: As the Australian Service Medal was issued last out of all the campaign medals, there is the possibility that the medal was not issued.

VF $275

Fifteen R.N.Z.A.F. envelopes produced and sold by the Canteen Board for airmen to purchase to write home with. Still will paper tag to hold bundle together intact and also marked R.N.Z.A.F.  with badge (Marked Canteen Board).

$100

First Battalion AIF 1914 -18 by the history committee (Burridge reprint).

SOLD

First World War Mothers and Widows badge

1 Star representing one child or a

husband who died in the Great War

Numbered 9628

SOLD

First World War Mothers and Widows badge

2 Stars representing two children who died in the Great War

(Missing pin on back) but otherwise fine and extremely rare Numbered 32744

SOLD

Five: 1914/15 Star, British War, Victory Medal, War Medal 1939/45 and ASM 1939/45. WW1 trio correctly impressed to 1913 PTE. H. T. PARKER 26/BN AIF. War Medal 1939/45 and ASM 39/45 correctly impressed Q50772 H. T. PARKER

EMB: 16^th August 1915

WIA: 1^st November 1915 Shrapnel wound thigh Gallipoli

RTA: 20^th January 1916 medically unfit

During the Second World War Herbert Thomas Parker served from March 1941 until January 1943 with the 1^st Garrison battalion. 

VF $1100

Five: 1914/15 Star, British War, Victory Medal, War Medal 1939/45 and ASM 1939/45. WW1 trio correctly impressed to 3243 PTE. J. H. BAMBURY 3/BN AIF. War Medal 1939/45 and ASM 39/45 correctly impressed N76029 J. H. BAMBURY. (Minor error with his second initial being “M” on Star, all other information being correct)

EMB: 2^ND November 1915

Transferred to 53^rd Battalion 16th February 1916

Transferred to 5^th Pioneer Battalion 3^rd March 1916

RTA: 10^th July 1916 (operation Hernia)

Note: During the Second World War Joseph Henry Bambury served from July 1940 until February 1942 with the Australian Army Service Corps. 

VF-EF SOLD

Five: 1914/15 Star, British War, Victory Medal, War Medal 1939/45 and ASM 1939/45. WW1 trio correctly impressed to R. M. A. 11414, GR. A. L. SKIPP. War Medal 1939/45 and ASM 39/45 correctly impressed W28972 A. L. SKIPP

Gunner Skipp enlisted into the Royal Marine Artillery in 1905 (underage) serving on the following ships (in order); Hibernia, Magnificent, London, Collingwood and the Royal Sovereign until the end of the First World War.

In Australia, Alfred Leonard skip enlisted on the 6^th November 1940 and served as a sergeant on staff with Western Command (WA) for the whole period of the Second World War.

VF SOLD

Five: 1939-45 & Africa Stars, Defence, War & Australian Service Medals. ALL impressed. SX1984 R. E. Williams 2/10 Infantry Battalion. Comes with an engraved Tobruk Medal.

Wounded in Action at Tobruk 6 May 1941, Served in the post War period twice.

Gd VF $725

Five: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly impressed to VX34115 C. V. SPEERS. Comes with box of issue

Enlisted 11^th July 1940 and posted to the 2/3^rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

The unit embarked for the Middle East in December 1940

Sydney Morning herald 18^th June 1941 has Gunner Speers as “Previously reported missing now believed killed”

Records indicate that VX34115 Cyril Speers was at one stage held at an officers camp at Sulmona (Campo PG78)

Discharged 31^st August 1945

Note: The majority of POW’s of the 2/3^rd L. A. A. Rgt were taken during the evacuation of Crete. The approximate figure of Australians in Italian POW camps during the war is 2000 soldiers.

EF SOLD

Five: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly named to VX2446 R.A.K. Fairless (2/2nd Field Ambulance). Stars un-named as often found.

FAIRLESS REGINALD ALLEN KEITH : Service Number - VX2446 : Date of birth - 28 Jun 1908 : Place of birth - WEST MELB VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE VIC : Next of Kin - FAIRLESS ERNEST

WIA 19/5/1941 Severely wounded Crete and as a result evacuated back to Australia for discharge. Records open to public.

A very nice Crete Casualty group $725

Five: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly named to VX42588 W. P. SHAW

Cpl Shaw’s service records are open on the national archives website

Enlisted 3^rd July 1940 into the Australian Army at Caulfield, Victoria. Previous service listed in WW1 from Tasmania but did not make it overseas with cease of hostilities.

Overseas service shown as “Middle East” 6^th November 1940 – 11^th December 1942 serving with 2/24^th Battalion

Due to illness contracted in the Middle East on his return to Australia Cpl Shaw saw service with 2^nd movements group

Discharged 11^th July 1946

Note: Medals come with Bible, Tobruk Seige medal, engraved “W. Shaw VX42588”, miniatures, ribbon bar and RSL badge.

VF SOLD

Five: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly named to WX284 G. J. STRAUGHAN. Stars un-named as often issued.

At the time of listing these medals Sergeant George James Straughan’s service records were still sealed.

The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll;

Enlisted 7^th November 1939 into the Australian Army at Subiaco, WA

Discharged 1^ST March 1944

Unit on discharge listed as “2/11^TH BATTALION 6 DIVISION”

Note: With the service number WX284 we know that Sergeant Straughan enlisted on the very first day of enlistment in 1939. The “Western Mail” newspaper dated the 9^th January 1941 lists a “Virgilian Honour Roll” giving us an insight of his service and shows us he was still overseas at that time.  “Cocky's Offsider" WX284 Sgt G. I. Straughan, A/A Platoon, Headquarters Coy.. 2/11 Battalion. AIF. Abroad”

The “Mirror” newspaper dated 31^st October 1942 in relation to Georges wedding had stated the following; “George took everything Hitler’s men could throw at him overseas, and returned to claim his sweet heart. “(First WAAAF wedding in Geraldton)

With the newspaper clipping showing his marriage in Australia in 1942 and knowing the majority of the 2/11^th were taken Prisoners on Crete, it appears that Sergeant Straughan may have been one of the lucky few who were able to make a daring escape off the island. Further research can only enhance this group.

VF SOLD

Five: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly named to QX2454 E. F. G. H – HARFORD. Stars un-named as issued along with Defence medal (see end of description)

At the time of listing these medals, Private Hetherington-Harford’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll.

Enlisted 30^th May 1940 into the 2/7^th Field Engineers at Miowera, Queensland

The following story was taken from https://9thdivvy.blogspot.com/2008/09/image-incredible-escape.html

22nd April, 1941. Tobruk, Libya.

The Benghazi Handicap's Wooden Spooners.

Meet two of the 9th Division's luckiest men. QX1698 Sapper Stanley Curtis and QX2454 Sapper Edward Hetherington-Harford of the 2/7th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers enjoy a well received cigarette after their late arrival in Tobruk on foot after a 16 day trek.

Left behind in Benghazi to plant demolitions on Italian supply dumps so that the advancing Afrika Korps could not take advantage of them the two Sappers planted explosives to cover the 9th Divisions retreat, known as "the Benghazi Handicap". When surprised by the rapid approach of the advancing Afrika Korp the two men hid and were overtaken by Rommel's Panzer Divisions.

Finding themselves behind enemy lines and surrounded by thousands of Axis troops the men hid by day and travelled by night where possible overland on foot. After a journey of 16 days, and 300 miles (483 kilometres), the men managed to sneak past German positions surrounding Tobruk and return to their units. Immediately hospitalised for treatment of their injuries it is not known if the men played any further part in the Western Desert Campaign. If so I believe they well deserved any rest coming to them after that.

Note: Medals come with Frame, Beautiful "Tobruk Association" notebook case with pen (pictured above), Family bible, Tobruk Seige medal “EL ALAMEIN” clasp, engraved “E. Harford” and returned serviceman’s badges. Further research required

This is a known group purchased from the family with a unnamed Defence medal and seems to comply with the Clive Johnson statement that up to 700 Defence medals were despatched in haste to predominantly QX numbers

VF $1800

Five: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, War Medal (M.I.D.) and Australian Service Medal 1939/45 to an Officer of the 2/43rd Btn. AIF. War Medal and ASM are correctly impressed to SX6994 R. B. Davis. Stars un-named as often found.

MID London Gazette 24-6-1943. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 16-3-1944 "Award for El Alamein"

WIA 10/8/1941 Tobruk.

Promoted to be Lieutenant 3/1/1943.

Comes with large quantity of research. Original train ticket and Battalion Car Badge for the 2/43rd, plus old period plastic coated ribbon bar, pre ASM award.

EF SOLD

Five: 1939/45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Australian Service Medal correctly impressed to 400969 R. F. Cripps

Flight Sergeant Cripps a native from Glenferrie Vic, enlisted on the 7th of December 1940.

On 9 Jan 43, Cripps was tasked as bomb aimer aboard Lancaster W4371 of 12 Sqn, Bomber Command. The aircraft took off from RAF Station Wickenby, to carry out a mine laying operation in the Saint Peter’s Head area of the West Frisian Islands, near the Danish coast. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it the Lancaster and crew failed to return to base.

The crew was listed as missing in action, and an investigation determined the crew was killed in flying battle. Two other planes were also listed as missing at the same time.

Official report states “It is presumed to have been lost owing to enemy action over the target which it was detailed to attack”

Historian Alan Storr states “Following post war investigations and enquires, it was recorded in 1949 that the missing crew had lost their lives at sea”.

This is a rare Air Crew Europe Killed in Action group to an Australian and seldom seen on the market.

 Near EF SOLD

Five: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal (M.I.D.) and Australian Service Medal 1939/45. All medals Officially impressed to WX27931 W. E. LYNES (11^TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION)

MID "For exceptional service in the field in S.W. Pacific area" and gazetted under the period for the 1^st April, 1945 to 15^th August 1945 Borneo.

London Gazette 6^TH March 1947.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 6^TH March 1947.

Corporal William (Bill) Edward Lynes from Collie Western Australia served 1509 days from the 16^th December 1941 to 1^st February 1946 of which 414 days were outside Australia serving with the 11^th Australian Infantry Battalion.

Note: Comes with original M.I.D. award document with additional “Oak Leaf” M.I.D. device, Service awards issue documents, Soldiers Record of Service Book (with photo), Statement of Service certificate and Certificate of Discharge (All original period paperwork).

Very rare to see an M.I.D. to an enlisted man on the market and it is believed that there is roughly only about four issued per battalion in WW2

EF $2400

Five: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal (M.I.D.) and Australian Service Medal 1939/45. All medals Officially impressed to WX27990 T. H. Kenafick. (13 Field Coy. AIF).

MID "For exceptional service in the field in S.W. Pacific area"

London Gazette 6/3/1947. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 6/3/1947.

Complete with his original pocket watch "To T. Kenafick railway picnic Committee Southern Cross September 28th 1903"

Records show that Sgt Kenafick was part of a bomb disposal unit in LAE

EF $2200

Five: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal correctly impressed to VX18985 C. W. Mucklow,

Sergeant Charles William Mucklow a native from Nathalia, Victoria enlisted on 6 Jun 1940. The 2/2nd  Pioneer Battalion fought as companies during the Syrian campaign, but when the Vichy French counter-attacked Merdjayoun on 15 Jun 1941, the 2/2nd regrouped to hold the Litani Bridge and prevent further enemy advance.

On 17 Jun, the 2/2nd participated in the attack on Fort Merdjayoun. French machine-gun fire quickly stopped the attack and the Australians suffered 27 killed, 29 captured, and 46 wounded.

In early 1942 the 2/2nd sailed on the Orcades reaching Oosthaven in Sumatra before going to Batavia. The troops aboard Orcades combined as ‘Blackforce’ to defend Java. The Japanese landed on Java on 28 February 1942. Blackforce went into action at Leuwiliang near Buitenzorg on 4 March fighting against the Japanese for two days but was ordered to lay down arms the day after Dutch surrender on the 8^th of March. The majority of the 2/2nd survived the fighting and spent the rest of the war as prisoners. Of these, 258 men died, most while working on the Burma-Thailand railway.

Mucklow was part of Williams Force, who worked the Burma end of the railway. He died of beri beri at Tha Makham camp, Thailand, on 29 Jan 1944. His body was recovered at the end of the war and reinterred in the CWGC cemetery at Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

 EF SOLD

Five: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All correctly impressed to VX23142 C. W. S. BEVERLEY

Enlisted 24^th May 1940 and then taken on strength 2/2^nd Pioneer Battalion

Embarked Sydney for the Middle East 7^th April 1941

Embarked from the Middle East and arriving at Batavia 17^th March 1942

Reported Missing in Action 30^th April 1942 Java

Classed as a Prisoner of War 1^st October 1942

Transported as Java Party 5A on the Singapore Maru to Singapore arriving 19^th October 1942 (part of a body of 1500 men)

Taken overland on train 32 to Thailand with 783 POW’s on the 7^th January 1943

RTA: 16^th November 1945

Note: Comes with a copy of Cyril Beverley’s service record

Near EF SOLD