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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

Five: Defence Medal, War Medal, GSM Malaya & Cyprus, Korea pair 22773764 Pte GR Evans Welch (Cpl on GSM).

Very fine or better $990

Five: Military Cross G.V.R, 1914-15 Star (Capt.), British War & Victory Medals, Major W. H. Thornton R. F. A. Territorial Decoration G.V.R. (unnamed).

MC London Gazette 10^th December 1919. At Query-Le-Grouch on 10^th Nov. 1918 during the final attack on the enemy position N. of Navaj, while in command of a forward section of his battery, he displayed great initiative and energy in pressing forward his section and keeping in touch with the enemy. His section came under heavy M. Gun fire while in the open and throughout the day he set a fine example to his men.

All this action the day before the war finished!                        

Gd VF $1650

Five: Military Medal, Mons Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Belguim Croix de Guerre. First four medal correctly impressed to D-19927 L.CPL R. SEAL. 3/D.GDS on the Military medal and then a change of service number 5228 shown on the remaining three . Croix de Guerre un-named as issued.

All medals are officialy confirmed.

Military Medal London Gazette 16.7.1918

Belgium Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15.4.1918 No 30631

It is understood thar R. Seal participated the the famous Cavalry charge at Villeselve in March 1918 and was a good pal of Captain A. B. P.L. Vincent MC & Bar who was decorated for his roll in that charge and who’s medals were sold in our last list. Researching gallantry awards to the 3^rd Dragoon Guards indicates very little has ever been sold relating to such an amazing feat of arms which must go down as one of the last horse back chargers on the western front in WW1. Extremley rare.

bsp;Overall group is VF SOLD

Family Grouping;

Five: Mons Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. All medals correctly impressed to 9890 PTE W. J. DOUBLE 2/S. LANC: R. Death plaques named to WILLIAM JAMES DOUBLE and JOHN HENRY DOUBLE

9890 Private William James Double 2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment died 30^th October 1914PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE. CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ XII. D. 13. German Trench Grave No. 4 “No clothing of any description found on remains”

9858 Private John Henry Double 7th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment died 9^th August 1915. TURKEY. HELLES MEMORIAL Panel 135 to 137.

Near EF SOLD

FIX BAYONETS. The unit history of the 51st Battalion by Neville Browning (first edition).

SOLD

FOR KING AND COBBERS -HISTORY OF THE 51st Battalion A.I.F. 1916-1919 by Neville Browning.

SOLD

FOR KING AND COBBERS -HISTORY OF THE 51st Battalion A.I.F. 1916-1919 by Neville Browning.

SOLD

Forward Undeterred 23 Bn. By Ron Austin (1998).

SOLD

Forward with the Fifth. The story of five years' war service. Fifth Inf. Battalion AIF by A. W. Keown 1921.

$325

Four : 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939/45 and Australian Service Medal 39/45. All medals are correctly impressed to SX39356 L. R. PRINCE

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

Enlisted 6^th November 1943 16^th AUST. STG CAMP QLD

Also served as S16381

Discharged 7^th March1946

Unit on discharge listed as “7 DOCKS OPERATING COMPANY”

 Further research required

VF $250

Four: 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals, MSM G.V.R. 57 WO1 R. J. Hogan AAPC.

Enlisted 1^st Brigade Ammunition Column then transferred to the AAPC. He was Field Cashier for the 5^th Division. Qualified for 1914 leave. 

MSM: London Gazette 18.1.19  

Four: 1914 Star with bar, British War Medal, Victory Medal and India General Service Medal 1908 two clasps "WAZIRISTAN 1919-21" and "WAZIRISTAN 1921-24"  All four medals are impressed to 20751 GNR G. PHILLIPS. R.A. (last medal "R.G.A")

Comes with regimental cap badge.

GD VF SOLD

Stoker Petty Officer J. S. Andrews, Royal Navy, who was serving in H.M.A.S. Encounter when she became the first Australian Naval Vessel to fire a shot in anger, on 14 September 1914

Four: 1914-15 Star (S.S. 109965 J. S. Andrews. Act. L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (S.S.109965 J. S. Andrews. S.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K.58497 J. S. Andrews S.P.O. H.M.S. Victory.)

Joseph Sidney Andrews, a labourer from Hull, Yorkshire was born on 6 March 1891. Enlisting in the Royal Navy on 13 July 1910, his Great War service included service in H.M.A.S. Encounter, a ship that was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy, on the Pacific Station, until May 1917, and he was serving in her when Encounter became the first Australian ship to fire a shot in anger, at Toma Ridge, New Guinea on 14 September 1914. Promoted Stoker Petty Officer on 1 March 1918, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 3rd October 1925, and was invalided from the service due to general paresis on 23 November 1931.

Mounted as worn, contact marks, nearly very fine SOLD