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Six: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Australian Service Medal and Greek War Medal (un-named as issued). All Commonwealth Medals correctly named to SX1922 A H WHYTE

Arthur Henry Whyte enlisted on the 4^th March 1940 into the 2/3^rd Field Regiment at Adelaide

Embarked 13^th August 1940 for the Middle East

Served in Libya, Greece and Crete during which time he was Court Marshalled three times serving a total of 139 days in field prison.

A copy of a letter written by Private Whyte (included) gives us the following insight into his Crete service;

‘On Crete about 15^th or 16^th of May 1941 I was charged before the Regimental Orderly Room and sentenced to 21 days detention. The charge was for being A.W.L. for 13 ½ hours. After serving 4 days of this sentence the Blitz for Crete started. I with many others, was told that we could either stay and serve our sentences or go to the front lines. I decided to take the latter course. I was then released without prejudice”.

Discharged 26^th October 1942 on compassionate grounds.

Comes with research and original documents.

VF $575

Six: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Australian Service Medal and Unofficial Tobruk Medal. All official medals correctly impressed to WX7280 M. G. RYAN

Occupation on enlistment “Prospector”, Next of Kin Busselton WA

Previous service: 1 year 11 Bn C.M.F.

Taken on strength of the 2/28^th BN and embarked on the 4^th Jan. 1940 for the Middle East.

After more than two years’ service in the Middle East including Tobruk (April-August 1941), Private Ryan was discharged medically unfit due to dysentery and fever (along with other symptoms). He also states the location where the symptoms first occur was “Tobruk”

Note: Comes with copy of service record

 VF SOLD

Six: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly named to NX16377 R. G. FLANNERY

Richard Gerard Flannery enlisted 22^ND May 1940 into the Australian Army at Paddington, residing at Woollahra, NSW

Injury prior to embarkation in Bathurst whilst on leave described as “wantonly attacked by an unknown civilian, frac nose”

Embarked 14^th November 1940 for the Middle East with the 2/6^th Field Regiment

15^th November 1941 records show promotion to A/Sgt with a clear line marked through

RTA on the 23^rd March 1942

13^th June 1942 Gnr Flannery was charged with negligently drove an army vehicle. This charge was over turned by his commanding officer.

Embarked for the Pacific 6^th September 1942

“At approx. 0930 on 28.2.43 at the position of C Tp, 12^th Fd Bty, 2/6 Fd Regt, south of Gona. The pistol was a regulation U.S. Army pattern and was in the possession of NX65742 Gnr Pinnington D. M. at the time of the accident. Two shots were fired from the pistol.” Resulting in Gun Shot Wounds to Gnr Flannery’s right flank and liver.

Returned to Australia and subsequently discharged on the 12^TH January 1944 as Medically unfit

VF SOLD

ESCAPE & EVASION

Six: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal with Mentioned in despatches oak leaf and Australian Service Medal. Stars un-named as often issued, with remaining three correctly impressed to NX3735 W. H. SCHOFIELD

NX3735 William Henry Schofield  enlisted into the Australian Army as a Signalman on the 23^rd October 1939 at Paddington NSW

His date for embarkation was the 14^th September1940 bound for the Middle East returning on the 19^th March 1942

M.I.D. awarded for “Distinguished Service in the Middle East during the period of February 1941 to July 1941”. London Gazette 35396 dated the 30^th of December 1941 page 7361 at position 68

Embarking again this time to confront the Japanese and bound for New Guinea he left on the 24^th of April 1944. Finally Schofield returned on the 16^th September 1945 for discharge which took place on the 19^th October 1945 due to the conclusion of the war. It is nice to see he went on to live a healthy long life passing away on the 28^th September 2001.

Interestingly Schofield’s name comes up on the Freeman website (dedicated to soldiers who have escaped the enemy) with the following reference “Greece NX3735 SCHOFIELD William Henry 2/2 Bn” then it mentions the ship “Victoria Huon” he used in the final leg of his escape from the island of “Skyros” also mentioned.

“Purple over Green” the unit history on the 2/2^nd Battalion (who Schofield was attached to) gives us an insight into Schofields fascinating escape telling the story of one of Schofield’s companions for part of his escape. We do not know what Schofield endured over the first nine days whilst on the run evading the Germans until the late hours of the 27^th where the book specifically mentions him meeting other escaping soldiers forming a group of no less than 14 in all. Several days were then spent in hiding whilst trying to negotiate with the local Greek villagers for a boat to further their escape. Finally a boat large enough was acquired and the 14 of them were able to sail to the island of Skopelos, then the next day to the island of Skandura, then on to Skyros. The escape was far from over and days past on the island along with another group that had made it. The group waited and hoped until the night of the 13^th of May when they sighted a 30 foot boat and after much negotiation with the skipper it was agreed he would take the whole party of now 30 men. The cost for this was an exorbitant sum that the group was to obtain from the British Consul at Smyrna in Turkey, their projected destination. The book tells of further close calls as the group hides under blankets as the German planes fly over until arriving in Turkey. Once in Turkey arrangements had to be made for the group to travel to Palestine where the Australian troops were located. They finally reached their fellow comrades on the 24^th of May now a group of no less than 48 men made up of both Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

When we compare the dates for which Schofield is awarded his MID, along with the dates the Germans invaded and the dates we now know he escaped, we see they are the same, making this award a seldom seen award for escape and evasion. A truly fascinating story which further research could only make better.

VF SOLD

Six: 1939/45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45, Queens Korea Medal and United Nations Korea Medal. WW2 medals are all unnamed as issued. Korea Pair correctly impressed to 3/10957 W. J. Whitford.

T/Sgt William John Whitford served with the English army in WW2 (service number 14922415), before enlisting into the Australian army and serving in Korea with 2 RAR

Comes complete with Australian Military Forces Certificate of Discharge (Korean overseas service of 1 year and 44 days). Royal Australian Regiment shoulder title, Ribbon Bar and both medal entitlement cards (WW2 and Korea) confirming all awards.

Near EF SOLD 

Six: 39-45, Africa & Pacific Stars, Defence War Medal with TWO MID’s & Australian Service Medal. ALL medals impressed, VX40510 A. D. McBean. Australian Engineers.

First MID Commonwealth Gazette No 81 27 April 1944 page 896

‘Exceptional Service in the Field in New Guinea’

Second MID Commonwealth Gazette No 34 21 February 1946 page 412

‘Distinguished Service in SW Pacific’  

McBean served in Greece before his service in the SW Pacific. Double MID’s to other ranks for WW2 must be classed as extremely rare.

His MID certificate is illustrated in Australians Awarded.

Gd VF $2950

Six: An interesting low level flying fighter pilot  Distinguished Flying Cross (dated 1943) & Bar (engraved 1944), 1939/45 Star, Air Crew Europe "France and Germany", Defence Medal, War Medal and 1953 Coronation medal. Attributed to 106182 Flight Lieutenant Michael John Gray of 168 & 2 Squadron. D.F.C. correctly period dated 1943 and Bar 1944 respectively. Campaign medals unnamed as issued.

DFC London Gazette date 16th March 1943

"Act. Flt. Lt. M. J. Gray. R.A.F.V.R., No, 168 Sqn. This officer is a fine leader and a courageous pilot, who has completed many long-range reconnaissance in single-seater fighters. During sorties in search of enemy shipping along the Dutch coast he has located and reported accurately the position of numerous convoys. Flt. Lt. Gray has damaged eight enemy vessels and nine locomotives. No aircraft has been lost from any formation led by him. On a recent sortie he flew low through the streets of Ostend in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire."

Bar to the DFC. London Gazette date 14th November 1944

 "Acting Squadron Leader Michael John Gray, D.F.C., (106182), R.A.F.V.R., 2 Sqn. This officer has displayed outstanding ability and zeal. He is a gallant and forceful leader, whose personal example has contributed materially to the high standard of efficiency of the squadron which has obtained much access. He has commanded the squadron for some nine months during which period the formation has completed many sorties, involving reconnaissance and attack on radio buildings and flying bomb sites. Squadron Leader Gray has taken part in many of these assignments."

Comes with two original flight photographs possibly low level flying through Ostend, Coronation certificate from Buckingham Palace named to Flt. Lt. Gray, period newspaper cut outs from a scrap book with hand written notes, Original London Gazette for the Bar to the DFC and congratulation letter on his DFC from Group Captain Geddes dated 1943. 

Ex Glendining's 1992

SOLD

Outstanding POW DFC group to a Pathfinder Pilot and member of the Caterpillar Club who according to a newspaper report in 1965 flew an amazing 85 missions including Black Thursday

Six: Distinguished Flying Cross (dated 1944), 1939/45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All campaign medals correctly impressed to 403147 J. H. Nicholls. Along with correct period gold Caterpillar Club badge with red gem eyes engraved ‘F/L J. H. Nicholls DFC

DFC London Gazette date 2^nd June 1944

“Numerous attacks on German & French Targets”.

At the time of listing these Flight Lieutenant John Harold Nicholl’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll and various POW websites;

“Johnny” Nicholl’s enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force in Sydney, NSW on the 9^th December 1940.

Posted to the UK Flight Lieutenant Nicholls did nearly all of his operational flying with 97 Sq (including Black Thursday) before moving with “C” flight to form part of the new 635 Squadron at Downham Market, Norfolk.

On the night of the 30/31st March 1944, F/L Nicholls piloting Lancaster JB706 took off on his 35^th mission from RAF Downham Market, Norfolk, detailed to bomb Nuremberg (Operation: Nurnberg), but was hit by flak near Westerburg (Rheinland Pfalz, Germany). The aircraft crashed and two of the crew WO Jolley and Flt Sgt Whitehead were killed. The other five parachuted including Nicholls who earnt his Caterpillar Club badge in doing so. Once on the ground all five became Prisoners of War. The plane crashed at Mademühlen (Hessen, Germany), 2 km SW of Driedorf. Taking down the plane plane was also claimed by German night fighter (Felwebel Otto Kutzner, 5./NJG3).

Germany In a POW Report Flt Lt Nicholls stated; “An explosion in the fuselage set fire to the aircraft and damaged the elevator control and trim controls as well as loss of power in three engines. The aircraft was out of control and had commenced a stall spin with smoke issuing from the centre of the aircraft inside the fuselage. I gave the order to abandon but this was not acknowledged because the I/C was U/S. I bailed out at approx. 17,000 feet. There was no crew member injured and no crew member still in the aircraft as far as I know. The aircraft landed in a field 20 miles north east of Coblenz. I was captured 24 hours later by German farmers. I have no information re Jolley or Whitehead.”

Casualty enquiry, 18/01/1946.
“ … Questionnaires completed by F/S Ogilvie and Sgt. Smith on repatriation state that W/O Jolley bailed out but was killed to parachute failure. It was probable that F/S Whitehead did not leave the aircraft and they presumed he was killed on information given by Germans … “.

WO Jolley is buried in the Rheinberg Ware Cemetery, Locality Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany. Flt Sgt Whitehead is buried in the Hanover War Cemetery.

Fl/Lt Nicholls spent the remainder of the as a Prisoner of War in Stalag Luft L1 Barth Vogelsang before being repatriated in 1945.

Discharged 26^th November 1945, “97 Squadron” listed as unit on discharge.

Comes with cased unofficial Bomber Command Medal in case of issue and numbered “4610”.and original group of miniatures with miniature Pathfinders badge 

Good VF SOLD

Six: Member of the British Empire (MBE) 2nd type Military, Pacific Star (small impressed), Defence, War and Australian Service Medal (all impressed) VX119275 P. R. GARRETT. Also, it is suggested he was able to wear the King Gustav Medal for sport (shooting awarded 1973) which accompanies the group.

Served in Coastal command RAA until joining the 2/9^th BN AIF in June 1945 going on to receive a Gun Shot Wound to the knee in July. Interestingly he incurred an incredible number of minor charges recorded during his service.

MBE Civil awarded June 1981.-Shooting, having been in the German Olympics in 1972 and Canada in 1976

This group comes with a number of unofficial awards & decorations in both full size and miniature plus medallions, wall plaques and large silver plate trophy for Hobart 1958 for shooting. And 18 medallions and official shooting trophies.  

Includes a number of original documents and certificates (5) plus original MBE warrant, An extremely scarce group to an Australian Olympic participant.

Gd VF ON HOLD

Six; 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal,  Australian Service Medal and Greek War Medal. Allk Australian medals correctly impressed to WX292 W. H. F. Clarke.

William Henry Francis Clarke a mill hand from Swanbourne, WA, enlisted on 7 Nov 1939. An original member of 2/11th  Bn,

Private Clarke saw action at Bardia, Tobruk and Derna before the campaign in Greece.

On the 17^th of April 1941 during a Luftwaffe airstrike on the withdrawal through Brallos Pass Private Clarke was tragically killed (being the first member of the Battalion killed in action in the Greek campaign). He was quickly buried by the side of the road and his body has not been recovered.

Private Clarke was later commemorated on the Athens Memorial, Greece.

Ex: Status International sale Oct 2009

 VF SOLD

SOUTH AFRICA 1853 (Corpl. J. Bunting, 2^nd 60^th Rifles), China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Cr. Serjt. Josh. Bunting, 2nd Bn. 60th Rl. Rifles) officially impressed naming, 

Joseph Bunting was born in the parish of Great Linford, near the town of Newport Pagnell. He originally enlisted into the Royal Marines 7 December 1842. He transferred into the 2/60^th Rifles 1 July 1843 – indicating he was previously a sailor. With the Regiment he saw service during the third Kaffir war (medal verified on roll) before being promoted up the ranks to Colour Sergeant. During the later stages of the China campaign, he saw action at Taku Forts and Pekin in 1860 (medal verified on roll). This is Joseph Bunting’s full entitlement, no LSGC medal due to 13 entries in the Regimental defaulter’s book and two Court Martial’s by the end of his 21 years of service. The fact that he did not receive a LSGC yet still made it to the rank of Colour Sergeant suggests a good strong soldiers.

Contact marks, good, very fine $2250

South Africa: Prince Alfred’s Guard Helmet Plate 1874-1890. In white metal and complete with two lugs.

$275

Souvenir Guide of South Australia’s Fighting Men of the A.I.F. The history, achievements and colors of the various units. Compiled for the citizens and business men’s committee by SGT-MJR H. H. Hannam late A.I.F.

100 pages packed with interesting and important information to do with South Australian’s in the war. An absolute must for any South Australian collector.

SOLD

Standard original WW1 Rising Sun with slider (picture is a stock photo and badge may vary)