Three: 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals all correctly impressed to 253 PTE J. A. DAVENPORT 16/BN. A.I.F.;
Private J. A. Davenport, 16th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
J. Allan Davenport, originally from Liverpool, served with the 16th Battalion. The following article appeared in the Liverpool Daily Echo in 1915:
‘Bugler J. Allen Davenport, formerly of the Liverpool Scottish, and now with the Second Contingent Australian Force writes: “I left Egypt months ago for the ‘do’ and have been wallowing in slaughter ever since. Oh, the sights I have seen and taken part in! It is marvellous how I escaped death. I have been fighting in the worst trench on the battlefield, and been in three bayonet charges. I volunteered to throw bombs, and threw a lot until I saw a fellow hold one in his hand a minute too long, and had his arm and hand blown off, so I thought discretion that better part of valour and gave it up.
One night an order came to charge the Turks’ trench, which was only 15 yards from ours, and the space between was filled with hundreds of our gallant Australians and Turks- mostly Turks. Anyway we charged and took the trench- they don’t like the bayonet- and held it till dawn. In the meantime the Turks had, under cover of darkness, got a couple of machine guns on each end of the trench, and when it grew light they opened fire. Those who survived came through a communication trench, dug overnight.
Another charge I was in was to take a hill where the Turks were entrenched. This hill is very steep. The 16th Battalion were ordered to take it. We had to creep up a narrow gully until we reached the hill. The slaughter that followed! I was one of the lucky ones. I was in the thick of the charge and yet I came out without a scratch, yet men were shot down all round me.”’
Davenport survived the War, and immigrated to Perth, Western Australia.
Note: Comes with the recipient’s aluminium identity tag; two cap badges; a Returned from Active Service lapel badge, the reverse officially numbered ‘123183’; and the recipient’s Returned Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Nurses’ Association of Western Australia lapel badge, gilt and enamel, the reverse numbered ‘39726’, with corresponding membership card,
Good very fine SOLD
Three: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. All medals correctly impressed to M2-119200 PTE A MILNE. A.S.C.
Date of disembarkation 15th September 1915
A.R.CL.Z. (Army reserve class Z) discharged to the reserves on the 25th May 1919
VF SOLD
Three: Able Seaman H. Cooper, Royal Navy
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (H. Cooper, Ord. H.M.S. Humber); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Henry Cooper, A.B., H.M.S. Alexandra); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed as issued.
Approximately 100 clasps issued to men from H.M.S. Humber forming part of the Naval Brigade.
Pitting overall, therefore nearly very fine $785
Three: British Korea & UN Korea (both impressed Coronation medal 1953 (engraved) Commander B. M. Ziegler RAN.
Born NSW in 1920. Enlisted in RAN (23188) on the 13 May 1939. Served WW2 on HMAS Nestor, Norman, Nizam & Shropshire. Commissioned July 1951 (91319). Korean War served on the HMAS SYDNEY for its first tour 1951-52. On roll for Sydney Coronation tour and Malaysian Confrontation 1962 before retiring in 1970 with the rank of Commander General Engineer and Mechanician.
Comes with 50-year commemoration & S Korea medals (both engraved) George tended to engrave unnamed medals such as unnamed Coronation medals.
VF $825
Rocquigny-Equancourt Road Cemetry, Manacourt
Three: British war and Victory medal with Memorial Plaque. Medals impressed to 29915 PTE E. PEARCY NORF. R. Memorial Plaque: Correct one piece cast named to ERNEST PEARCEY
KIA 20th November 1917
AGE: 35
Unit: 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment
Cemetery: Rocquigny-Equancourt Road Cemetery, Manancourt
NOK: Son of Charles and Deborah Pearcey of Elm Lodge, Elmbrook Rd, Sutton, Surrey
Note: Misspelt Pearcy on medals compared to Pearcey on Memorial Plaque.
Near EF SOLD
Three: British War Medal, Victory Medal and E11 coronation medal first two correctly impressed to 37326 A-CPL. R. T. GORE 4 D.A.C. A.I.F.
Enlisted on the 5th September 1916
Embarked 5th November 1917
RTA 31st March 1919
Ralph Thomas Gore was born in Glen Innes, NSW, on 4 October 1888. He was educated at Brisbane Grammar School and was called to the Queensland Bar in 1915. He was associate to Sir Samuel Griffith in 1915-16 and then served in the Artillery in WW1. He practised at the Queensland Bar 1919-24 and became Crown Law Officer in Papua in 1924. He was judge of the Supreme Court of Pupua 1928-42 and Judge of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea 1945-62. He died in 1968.
As the CBE is an unnamed medal, one could easily acquire the medal to add to this important group.
Good VF SOLD
Three: British War medal, Victory medal and Territorial War Medal. Medals impressed to 2328 PTE F. WENHAM R.A.M.C.
Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorials) attested Maidstone 10th August 1914; served India 29th October 1914 to 17th May 1918; South Africa 18 May 1918 to 29 January 1919; demobilized 17 April 1919.
Note: Medal card shows Frank Wenham as serving as number 493235 as well.
VF $575
Three: Sergeant F. Oliver, 20th Regiment of Foot (Lancashire Fusiliers)
Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol Sejt. Frdk. Oliver. 20th. Regt. contemporary engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 2nd issue, large letter reverse (Sergeant Frederick Oliver 1851.) engraved naming, fitted with replacement silver bar suspension; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, pierced with small ring suspension.
Frederick Oliver, a labourer, was born in Witley, Surrey, on 1 January 1810, and attested at Portsmouth for the 20th Regiment of Foot on 5 July 1824. Advanced Corporal on 30 September 1826, and Sergeant on 8 December 1832, he witnessed extensive service overseas in the East Indies, Bermuda and North America. Posted to the Crimea for six months from 31 August 1854, he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal with £15 gratuity and took his final discharge at Chatham in consequence of ‘general failing health’ on 31 July 1855.
All three mounted from contemporary wearing buckles, generally good VF $1285
Three: DCM G.V.R., War medal and Victory Medal. 602 Fred Jackson. 2nd Tunnelling Company AIF.
DCM London Gazette 6th July 1917.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has shown great courage in rescuing buried men and has performed consistent good work throughout.
It is a shame that the Victory medal has been RENAMED by someone with an impressing machine.
VF $2500
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 10th July 1941 into the Royal Australian Air Force at Tamworth
Discharged 30th 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
Three: Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All medals correctly named to SX15900 R. R. BLIGHT
Enlisted 3rd January 1942 into the Australian Army at Bowden, SA
Discharged 10th December 1945
Unit on discharge listed as “10/48 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION”
Note: Private Blight’s records are open which shows service at home in various infantry units before being posted to Darwin where he qualifies for the Defence medal. This is his full entitlement.
VF $285
Three: Lance-Corporal E. L. Hignett, 3rd Battalion Australian Imperial Force 1914-15 Star (1285 Pte E. L. Hignett. 3/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (1285 L-Cpl. E. L. Hignett. 3-Bn. A.I.F.)
Lance Corporal Ernest Lewis Hignett's embarked on the 20th October 1914 with the 3rd Battalion
The Red Cross file on Ernest gives us the following eyewitness statements as to what happened to him on Gallipoli shortly after he landed
“This happened a fortnight after we had landed (April 25th)”
“In a trench in front of Lone Pine”
“Hignett was sitting in a dug-out with Cpl Hane of the 3rd. Batt, from whom I obtained the following information later”. “A shell came through the wall of the dug-out and took his knee right off. He was carried away on a stretcher. He never winged and sat up to the salute as he passed Major Lamb, who seeing his condition was moved to tears. He was taken to the beach.”
Lance Corporal Ernest Lewis Hignett died in hospital in Egypt from the wound he sustained at Gallipoli serving in the 3rd Battalion A.I.F. on the 17th May 1915
He is buried at Chatby Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt
The eyewitness statements leave no doubt as to how tough a man Hignett was, he took his injury in his stride when most people would understandably be in hysterics.
Good very fine SOLD
Three: Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All medals correctly named to VX131045 H J W SEWELL
Henry Joseph William Sewell was born on the 1st May 1910 Leichhardt, NSW.
Enlisted in the Militia 1st July 1928 (36th Infantry Bn)
To 57/60th Infantry Bn 1st July 1935
Enlisted in the Permanent Forces 13th August 1936 (Ordnance Corps)
Posted to Midland Junction workshops, Western Australia as Sergeant 1938
posted to duty 3rd Heavy Brigade of Artillery, Rottnest Island and promoted to Warrant Officer Class II shortly after.
Joined A.I.F. November 1940 and continued to be posted to Rottnest Island, Midland Junction (as Armament Artificer) and various other locations in WA before posted to Queensland 13th Advanced Workshops towards the end of 1944.
Embarked Brisbane for Morotai, Borneo and operations against the Japanese per Transport “Sea Barb” 1945
Enplaned Morotai for Melbourne 18th January 1946 and to Officer Cadet training.
After WW2 posted to Army Headquarters Master General of the Ordnance Branch, Albert Park Melbourne 1947 and rose up through the ranks as a junior officer before being discharged with the Honorary rank of Major in 1965
Note: Regimental numbers he was given are 10/281681, 3753, VX131045 and 3470
Comes with WW2 Dog Tags, REME rifle competition awards (engraved medallion and plaque), both his original Warrant and also his Commission, along with a beautiful letter from Major-General Canet, CB CBE on Major Sewell’s retirement and his “Record of Service Book” which confirms the three medals as his full issue of medals. Research included
Good VF 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 10th of February 1942 at Forrest Gardens, South Australia and discharged with the Mobile Laundry on the 9th 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
Three: Private A. Amey, Royal West Surrey Regiment India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (3153 Pte. A.Amey 1st. Bn. Ryl. W. Surr: Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3153 Pte. A. Amey, Rl. Wt. Surrey Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3153 Pte. A. Amey. The Queen’s)
Nearly very fine $785
Three: Private A. Sands, East Surrey Regiment 1914-15 Star (2019. Pte. A. Sands. E. Surr. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2019 Pte. A. Sands. E. Surr. R.)
Note: Arthur Sands attested for the East Surrey Regiment, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 April 1915.
Good very fine $195
Three: Private G. L. F. Butcher, 8th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 26 July 1916
1914-15 Star (262 Pte. G. L. F. Butcher. 8/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (262 Pte. G. L. F. Butcher. 8-Bn. A.I.F.)
Gordon Leslie Fleuret Butcher attested for the Australian Imperial Force and served initially with the 8th Battalion during the Great War, before transferring to the 58th Battalion. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 26 July 1916, while serving with the latter unit, and is buried at Rue-de-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France.
Light traces of verdigris, very fine $1200
Three: Private P. R. Church, 25th Battalion Australian Imperial Force 1914-15 Star (57 Pte P. R. Church. 25/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (57 Pte P. R. Church. 25 Bn. A.I.F.);
Private Percy Robert Church embarked on the 29th June 1915 with the Alpha Company of the 25th Battalion A.I.F. for Gallipoli serving four and a half months before Dysentery took its toll on him.
Private church’s medical record give us a rare insight into the effects of dysentery on Gallipoli when recording his weight “Gallipoli in Dec. 1915, Wt. 11.5. , Wt. on enlistment 12 St. 2 lbs”
Transferred to the 49th Battalion on the 3rd November 1916 France
Unable to shake his illness that had followed him from Gallipoli all through his service discharging from the A.I.F. on the 10th October 1917 in the U.K. classed as “permanently unfit for general service”.
Note: Comes with his numbered A.I.F. ‘Returned from active service badge’,
Nearly extremely fine $875
Three: Private W. Cooper, Suffolk Regiment 1914-15 Star (7620 Pte. W. Cooper. Suff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7620 Pte. W. Cooper. Suff. R.)
Note: William Cooper attested for the Suffolk Regiment, and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 January 1915. He was discharged time expired on 13 October 1919.
Very fine SOLD
Three: Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (41108 Pte A. Mackie. 177th Coy Imp: Yeo:); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte A. Mackie. 4th S.A.I.)
Alexander Mackie served with the 177th (Fincastle’s Horse) Company, 31st Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War. He served during the Great War with the 4th South African Infantry in the French theatre of war from July 1917 (entitled to Silver War Badge). Mackie resided with his wife at 95 Durham Avenue, Salt River, Cape Town.
Mounted for display, generally good very fine $495
Three: Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (28265 Gnr T. R. Coombs. 66th Bty: R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (28265 Gnr: T. R. Coombs. R.F.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (28265 Gnr: T. R. Coombs. R.F.A.)
Footnote
Theodore Robert Coombs enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in June 1898.
Contact marks, therefore nearly very fine or better $695
Three: Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (5339 Corl. W. Watson, W. York: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5339 Pte. W. Watson. W. York: Regt.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (5339 Lce-Corpl. W. Watson 1st. W.Y. Regt.)
rank partially officially corrected on last, mounted as worn, contact marks otherwise VF $745
Three: Sergeant J. Dear, East Surrey Regiment 1914-15 Star (4440 Pte. J. Dear. E. Surr. R.); British War and Victory Medals (4440 Sjt. J. Dear. E. Surr. R.)
Good very fine SOLD
Three: Vietnam Medal (pantograph naming), RAAF LSGC E II R (engraved) Vietnam Star (pantograph Naming) A51124 G. T. Stratton F/SGT Plus two citations.
Noted on the roll for 2 Squadron RAAF.
This combination is seldom encountered.
Gd VF $950
