Medals

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 10^th August 1914; served India 29^th October 1914 to 17^th 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: 1914-15 Star (11784 Pte. J. Briggs. Shrops: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (11784 Pte. J. Briggs. Shrops. L.I.)

Private J. Briggs, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

GD VF$195

Pair: British war and Victory medal impressed to 43235 PTE W. S. ROWE. M.G.C.

Note: Further research is required but Rowe’s medal card shows that this is his full entitlement and that he discharged on the from the Machine Gun Corps

Near EF $100

Pair: British war and Victory medal impressed to 248434 PTE J. YOUNG. LABOUR CORPS

Note: Further research is required but Young’s medal card shows that this is his full entitlement and that he discharged on the from the Labour Corps

Near EF $70

Pair: British War Medal and Victory Medal impressed to SE-26975 A. J. KEMPSTER VET. CORPS

Note: Private Arthur J. Kempter’s BWM and VM is confirmed as his full entitlement for service with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in WW1

GD VF $100

Four: Defence Medal, War Medal, GSM clasp Malaya & RAF LSGC 535339 F. SGT D OGDEN RAF. First two un-named as issued, last two correctly R.A.F. style engraving.

Good VF $285

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

Very fine or better $990

Pair: War Medal, GSM clasp Palestine 1945-48  14036295 Pte R J Catley RMP

VF $175

Family Group:

Three: 1914-15 Star (Pte. T. E. J. Johnson 87th Infantry); British War and bilingual Victory Medals (Cpl T. E. Johnson. 7th S.A.I.)

Corporal T. E. Johnson, South African Infantry

Pair: War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, both officially impressed ‘329223 T. G. Johnson’,

T. G. Johnson, South African Forces

Both Groups VF $250

Single: GSM clasp Palestine 1945-48 impressed to 14922340 SIGMN A. H. CLUTTERBUCK. R. SIGS.

Note: Comes with West Australian Newspaper cut out dated Monday March 11^th 2002 detailing “Bert’s” life as a machinist. As a young man growing up in Bristol, he worked on a couple of the first Jet Aircraft, the Gloster Meteor and the Whittle prototype before joining the English Army in WW2. After returning from WW2 he worked for the Bristol Aeroplane Company on the classic Bristol two-litre car before migrating to Western Australia.

VF $175

Single: GSM QE2 with bars Malaya, Arabian Peninsula, Brunei. Correctly named to 23734265 Spr D. O'Rahilly RE.

Denis was known as Paddy and Bulker seen here on the 410 troop webpage http://410indplttroopre.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/one-more-found-comrade.html

and also here http://410indplttroopre.blogspot.com.au/2013/

Movements of 11 Sqn RE (including 410 Troop) http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-engineers/squadrons/11-squadron.html

11 Squadron, 11 Field Squadron

Dates         Location           Higher Formation / Notes

1950.01          Hong Kong: Sek Kong. Formed by renumbering 50 Field Sqn, 24 Field Engineer Regiment

1951.05          Austria: Villach/Klagenfurt Independent

May 51: Renamed 11 Independent Field Squadron  

1953.12          England: Chatham  

1954.12          Malaya: Sungei Besi          

 Feb 50: Under command 50 Field Engineer Regiment          

Aug 55: Under command of 28 Brigade

1956.02          North Malaya: Kemayan, Pahang            410 Ind. Plant Troop attached

1956.08          Malaya: Butterworth            28 Brigade

May - Dec 60: Borneo       

1962.04          Malaya: Terendak Camp, Malacca           28 Brigade

Jul - Nov 62: North Borneo: Kota Belud           

 1963:           Sarawak         

 Dec 63 - Jun 64: Thailand (Op Crown and Post Crown)       

 Dec 65 - May 66: Thailand (Op Crown and Post Crown)       

 Aug 67 - Jan 68: Thailand (Op Crown and Post Crown)       

 1969           Reduced to cadre

Note: From the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Near EF $450

GSM clasp MALAYA 4195349  S.A.C. P.H.TYLER.  RAF. GSM 62 clasp DHOFAR C4195349  CPL P H  TYLER  RAF, RAF Long Service & Good Conduct with original box the medal is correctly impressed to; C4195349  SGT P H TYLER  RAF

VF $990

GSM 62 clasp DHOFAR, UN Cyprus, RAF LSGC ER11 to G1960022 Cpl A Harrison RAF. LSGC names as SGT. 

Near EF $750

GSM clasp Malaya 23281842 PTE E A A G STANDEN QUEENS.

Note: Ernest Arthur Alfred George Standen Died 2007

Good VF $165

Single: GSM (GV1) One Clasp; "PALESTINE 1945-48" 14468457 SJT. J. BROWN R. A.

Medal roll shows service with 339 MOV/Lt Bty RA

EF $147.50

Single: General Service Medal 1918-62 (EIIR), 1 clasp “Malaya” impressed to 22409281 CPL L. MELSOME R. A. M. C.

GD VF $165

SINGLE; General Service Medal 1962-2007 clasp Malay Peninsula (23782257 L/Cpl/ J. S. Fish. RE.)

Comes in named card box of issue with original envelope addressed to ‘Mr. J. S. Fish, 5 Duckmanton Road, Duckmanton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire’.

extremely fine $125

Single: GSM (QE11) One Clasp; "MALAYA" 22979869 TPR. T. HOGAN. 11 H.

VF $200

Single: GSM (QE11) One Clasp; "CYPRUS" 2303751 PTE. J. SOUDEN. GORDONS.

Note: Autumn1955, 1st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders was on leave in the United Kingdom. They were recalled with 48 hours’ notice and were the first British Army Unit since 1945 to fly out to an Emergency.

The Gordon’s two main aims were to improve security and to obtain information.
In November 1955 were widespread attacks throughout the island including the use of bombs and an official State of Emergency was declared

VF $235

Pair: A Great War 1916 ‘Somme’ M.M. pair awarded to Private O. M. Selig, 13th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, a battalion runner who worked for 48 hours without rest, and was continually exposed to sniper and shell fire. He was wounded in action, 17 May 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (3917. Pte. O. M. Selig. 13/Aust: Inf:); British War Medal 1914-20 (3917 Pte. O. M. Selig. 13 Bn. A.I.F.)

M.M. London Gazette 8 December 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘For bravery and devotion to duty during the operations N.W. of Pozieres 29th/31st August. He was a battalion runner and worked for 48 hours without rest and was continually exposed to the greatest danger from shells and snipers. His courage and devotion to duty are very highly recommended.’

O. M. Selig was born in Dungoy, near Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, in 1892. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 30 August 1915, and embarked for Egypt, in December 1915. Selig served with the 13th Australian Infantry Battalion as part of the 4th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division in the French theatre of war from June 1916.

Selig was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations on the Somme, in particular during attacks north west of Pozieres 29/31 August 1916. The Battalion War Diary for these dates records an attack on Mouquet Farm. During the latter the Battalion suffered 8 other ranks killed, 3 officers and 42 other ranks wounded.

Selig continued to serve with the Battalion in France, and was wounded in action, 17 May 1918. He was invalided to England a few days later, and returned to Australia in the H.T. Marathon. Selig was discharged 21 March 1919.

Both suspension claws re-pinned, nearly very fine $2950

A Great War 1916 ‘Somme’ M.M. pair awarded to Driver P. Ryan, 49th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

Pair: Military Medal, G.V.R. (3470 Dvr: P. Ryan. 49/Aust: Inf: Bn:); 1914-15 Star (3470 Pte P. Ryan. 9/Bn. A.I.F.)

M.M. London Gazette 9 March 1917. The original recommendation (jointly listed with Driver H. McFarlane) states:

‘On the 13th November 1916 the Pack Transport was dispersed by shell fire and some mules were killed and others escaped. The Quartermaster, with the assistance of these two men, immediately assisted to collect the mules and turn out transport from the Battalion and brought rations to Flers. This was during the period that Flers was being shelled by the enemy. The behaviour and devotion to duty of these two men during the time between 13th November 1916 and 26th November 1916 was excellent. They were cheerful under all conditions and I think their conduct was an excellent example to the remainder of the Battalion Transport. These two men have consistently done good work in the Battalion Transport and I beg to recommend them for some honour.’

Percival Ryan was born in Glen Innes, New South Wales in 1893. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 3 August 1915, and embarked for Egypt with the 9th Australian Infantry Battalion in October 1915. Ryan transferred to the 49th Australian Infantry Battalion in February 1916, and served with them in the French theatre of war from June 1916.

Ryan was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry at Flers, Somme in November 1916. He returned to Australia in April 1919, and was discharged, 5 August 1919.

Mounted for display, good very fine $2250

A good Great War 1918 ‘Somme’ M.M. awarded to Private F. B. O’Donnell, 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for the capture of 4 machine guns and 45 prisoners during the attack near Hargicourt, 18 September 1918

Single; Military Medal, G.V.R. impressed to 6802 Pte F. B. O’Donnell 3/Aust. Inf.

M.M. London Gazette 17 June 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Hargicourt on 18th September 1918. With his Platoon Sergeant and Section Leader, Pte. O’Donnell under heavy machine fire rushed an enemy machine gun and helped to capture four machine guns and 45 prisoners. He killed the crews of two of the guns. Prior to this action he single handed captured a small enemy post and a garrison of eight. He did excellent work throughout and set a fine example of determination and fearlessness.’

The following additional detail is given in the Official History of Australia in the War 1914-1918, Vol. VI:

‘Lieut. Lord, to advance quickly, split his platoon into two, half led by Sgt. McMillan. Half way up the northern slope of the spur the left stopped by machine gunners in a knot of trenches. Leggett’s platoon on the north side of the valley was sniping across at these when it saw three Australians coming from the south towards the nest of guns. They were Sgt. McMillan and two of his men (L/Cpl Bradford and Pte F. B. O’Donnell). Following closely on the barrage, they had seen a machine gun firing on the troops on the left, and they hurried to work round into the trench full of Germans, putting on a bold face on their surprise they hurled their bombs. The whole trench-full surrendered, whereupon all the other Germans in the valley fled to the rear.’

Francis Bernard O’Donnell was born in Haymarket, Sydney in 1888. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Liverpool, New South Wales, 6 November 1916. O’Donnell was subject to court martial on two separate occasions - firstly for striking a superior officer, 23 April 1917, and latterly for fighting and drunkenness in the field, 11 June 1918.

O’Donnell served with the 3rd Battalion Australian Infantry Battalion in the French theatre of war from October 1917. He was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry near Hargicourt, Somme, 18 September 1918 (Sergeant McMillan’s D.C.M. was sold in these rooms in February 2019). On the latter date the Battalion War Diary records losses of 1 officer and 7 other ranks killed, 5 officers and 71 other ranks killed, whilst giving 60 Germans killed, approximately 200 captured, along with 22 guns and 20 machine guns captured during the attack. O’Donnell returned to Australia in May 1919.

Very Fine $2350

A scarce Great War ‘French theatre’ M.M. awarded to Lance Corporal M. J. Sheridan, 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company, Australian Imperial Force, who was wounded in action 18 February 1917

Single: Military Medal, G.V.R. (1163 L. Cpl. M. J. Sheridan. Aust: E.) 

M.M. London Gazette 17 June 1919.

Michael Joseph Sheridan was born in Kingston, Dublin, Ireland in 1886. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia, 29 November 1915, and served with the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company, Australian Engineers in the French theatre of war from 5 May 1916. The Australian company relieved the 255th Tunnelling Company in the Laventie/Fauquissart area in May 1916.

Sheridan was wounded in action, 18 February 1917, and having returned to his unit was posted to work around the Cité St. Pierre area near Lens in late 1917. In February 1918, ‘a party of men from the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company’s headquarters at Bracquemont travelled 40 kilometres to the British Tank Corps headquarters located at Bermicourt. On 10 February, an overcast day which saw men thickly clothed and cloaked in their trench coats to stave off the chill wind that swept across the open landscape, the tunnellers prepared and simultaneously blew two mines placed next to each other on the Tank Corps’ tank testing area.

The mines were blown as part of a trial designed to test the effectiveness of mine craters as a defence against tanks, and British tanks were used to negotiate the obstacles thus created. The group of Australian tunnellers comprised the company’s CO, Major Alexander Sanderson, Sergeant 1012 Matthew Goodlad, 2nd Corporal 1163 Michael Sheridan.... [and 7 others]... Two tanks rumbled down into the mine craters until their roofs were flush with ground level. Then, amid clouds of exhaust fumes and the roar of engines, they struggled to gain sufficient traction up the steep, crumbly crater walls to haul themselves out.

Among the witnesses to the trial were Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Holland, the General Officer Commanding I Corps, his Chief Engineer, Brigadier General H. Gordon, D.S.O., the commanding officers of the 185th Company and the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company, Majors Tulloch and North respectively, and Charles Bean, the Australian Official Historian.

The information gained on this day proved to be of immense value to the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company, then operating in the I Corps area, in its preparation of defensive works to meet German tank assault along the front at Loos....’ (Crumps and Camouflets, Australian Tunnelling Companies on the Western Front by D. Finlayson refers)

Sheridan advanced to Lance Corporal in April 1918, and returned to Australia in June 1919. He was discharged, 19 December 1919.

Nearly very fine $2250

Single: Military Medal (GV) correctly impressed to 3177 Pte. G. J. A. Long. 45/Aust: Inf: