Sold

MM (GVI) and WWII group of six to WX1822 Corporal John Torrens Snelling all medals correctly impressed. A painter from Northam, WA, he enlisted on 4 Mar 1940, as one of the 2/11th Bn reinforcements reallocated to raise the Australian 25th Brigade in the UK. An original member of ‘B’ Company, 2/31st Bn, he took part in the 2/31st Bn defence of Mersa Matruh in Apr-May 1941, then the advance into Lebanon in June. During the Battalion’s first engagement with the enemy at Khirbe, during the capture of Merdjayoun, B and D companies were caught by surprise in the open by a Vichy French fireplan, leaving many wounded men without cover. As a driver, he made numerous trips forward, initially by vehicle, then on foot, rescuing at least eight men. He was recommended for the immediate award of the DCM, but subsequently awarded an immediate MM for his extreme bravery in crossing the fire swept ground in front of the well-defended enemy position. Merdjayoun was eventually captured, for the loss of 16 killed and 34 wounded and was the first of WX2437 PTE James Heather Gordon of B Coy’s actions cited, for which he was awarded the first West Australian VC of the war. He took part in the capture of Jezzine, and was wounded in action by a shell blast during the Vichy counter-attack on 16 Jul, leaving him partially blind. He returned to Australia with the 2/31st in Jan 1942 and was transferred to the 2/1st Guard Bn, serving in New Guinea and Morotai until the end of the war. He returned to WA and was discharged in Sep 1945, worked as a painter for the WA Government Railways until retirement, and died in Como, WA, on 27 May 1991. (group swing mounted as worn, on original ribbons. Includes original portrait photo in uniform, original colour patch, and his RAS Badge)

Good/VF SOLD

Australian Camel Corps

FAMILY GROUPING OF FATHER (CAMEL CORPS) AND SON (CHANGI POW)

GROUP 1: FOUR: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 1393 PTE R. WILLIAMS 32/BN AIF. Death plaque correctly named to ROBERT WILLIAMS

EMB: 18th November 1915 with the 32^nd Battalion.

Transferred to the Camel Corps on the 24^th January 1916. Previous occupation “Jockey”

It appears Private Williams was severely injured by a “Defective Cap” which caused a “Compound Fracture of Radius…B. W. Forearm” whilst on duty with the Camel Corps on the 15^th March 1916 at Assuit

He was further invalided to Australia to recover on the 24^th June 1916

Admitted to 8^th A.G. Hospital (Subiaco, Western Australia) 14th February 1917 “Delirium Tremens” and died a few days later. Cause of death stated as “Cerebro Spinal Meningitis”

Note: As his death was war related and as he was still serving this is a rare example of a soldier receiving a Death Plaque even though his died in Australia.

Liberated Changi POW's

GROUP 2: Four: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star. War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939/45 all medals correctly impressed to WX16956 R. S. WILLIAMS

Robert Sydenham Williams (known as “Thirsty Bob”) enlisted 8^th October 1941 and was taken on strength with the 2/4^th Machine Gun Battalion 30^th December 1941

Sailed for Singapore 16^th January 1942 and was attached to E Company 1 platoon of the Special Reserve Battalion (all Machine Gunners) under the command of Major Bert Saggers.

He was recovered at Changi Gaol Camp on the 4^th September 1945. Returning to Sydney from Singapore via Darwin on the Hospital Ship Oranje, then by train to Perth to 110 Military Hospital with Berri Berri (Malnutritian).

Discharged 4^th April 1946

Note: Major A. E. Saggers wrote the book “To Hell and Back” which may give further incite. Also comes with masonic medal dated 1938 to R. Williams

Both groups VF SOLD

Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 3062 PTE F. G. NEDWICH 15/BN AIF.

EMB: 5^th Oct 1915

Transferred to 47^thBN 3^rd March 1916

Transferred to 4^th Field Butchery 16^th March 1916

Taken on strength 49^th BN 29^th July 1918

Discharged: 24^th July 1919

Note: Comes with original discharge certificate and photo.

 VF SOLD

Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 706 PTE. W. H. TOMS 27/BN AIF. (SGT on BWM & VM)

EMB: 31^st May 1915

Taken ill 1^st November 1915 after escorting prisoner from the front

Promoted Sergeant 19^th August 1916

KIA: 5^th November Villers-Bretonneux

Note: Served on Galliipoli and then in France where he was reported missing on the 5^th November 1916 near Flers in the attack on The Maze. Later confirmed as killed in action.

SOLD

Single: SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL1853 impressed to JOHN HALPIN, 74^TH REGT

John Halpin was born 1822 in Limerick, Tipperary, Ireland joining the 74^th Regiment (number 1766) on the 22^nd February 1840, at the age of 18. John saw service in the 3^rd Kaffir war of 1850-53 with his unit the 74^th Highland Regiment. In 1864 after 20 years of service and in receipt of a pension he migrated to Sydney NSW along with his five children on board “The Queen of the East”. His wife was not aboard but was noted as already living in the colony; John’s occupation was listed as Shoemaker and soldier.

Good, fine SOLD

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 2024 L/CPL S. R. WOOLBANK 45/BN AIF.

EMB: 22^nd Apr 1917

Appointed L/CPL 4^th Mar 1917

W.I.A: G.S.W buttocks (multiple) & hand 7^th Jun 1917

RTA: 21^st Dec 1917 (Due to wounds)

VF SOLD

Trio: Military Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 2669 PTE. W. J. WILKIE 41. BN. A.I.F.

Emb. 17th November 1916

Commonwealth Gazette 27th June 1918

RTA 14th January 1919

Records show that Private Wilkie was awarded his Military Medal "in the field" and as a result no citation can be found at this stage (worthy of further research). Interestingly we do have a citation of where Private Wilkie is recommended for a "Bar" to his Military Medal, which was subsequently not awarded like so many of the late war awards.

In 1944 Private Wilkie applies for a re-issue of his medals as his original medals are lost. A rare chance to purchase a good infantry Military Medal group (that was nearly an MM and Bar) at a reduced price

Good VF SOLD

Single: New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1863 to 1866 (2783 Cr. Sergt. Saml. Manning, 1st Bn. 12th Regt.),

The 12th Regiment arrived at Sydney in 1854 and served in New Zealand from 1860-66. It was engaged in the first Taranaki War, being present at No. 2 Redoubt and was in action throughout the Waikato War. It sustained losses at Rangiriri and fought at Gate Pa. The Headquarters moved to Napier in December 1865 and then moved to Tauranga in 1866, where part of the regiment took part in the Tauranga bush campaign.

As per the following report from The Hobart Mercury, 10 August 1861, Manning served as a Drill Instructor to the local volunteers in Tasmania in 186-61:

‘Yesterday evening a presentation of a purse of twenty sovereigns by the members of the First Rifles, S.T.V., to Acting Sergeant-Major Manning of H.M. 12th Regiment, who since the formation of the Corps, has filled the post of Drill Instructor, took place at the Town Hall.

Lieutenant-Colonel Russell, Field Officer, commanding Volunteers, and the whole of the officers of the Second Rifles were present; Mr. Manning holding the office of Drill Instructor to that corps. Several ladies also graced the scene with their presence and numerous spectators filled the gallery and lower part of the Hall. Acting Sergeant-Major Manning arrived shortly after eight o'clock, and the Corps being drawn up in subdivisions facing each other, Captain Solly spoke as follows:

“Sergeant Manning - The pleasing duty has devolved upon me, as the Captain Commanding the First Rifles, to convey to you, on the part of the Corps, the expression of their appreciation of your services as Drill Instructor. We feel, that to your unwearied assiduity and never failing patience, the present state of efficiency, which without boasting I may say is second to no corps in the Colony, is in great measure owing to you. I have now the pleasure of presenting to you this purse as a token of the good feeling entertained by the Corps towards you, and the high place you hold in their esteem. l am quite sure that wherever duty may call you, you will not forget the First Rifles, and you will ever carry with you the best wishes of the members of the Corps.

Sergeant Manning said:

“Officers, non-commissioned officers, and members of the First Rifles. I thank you most heartily for the very handsome present which you have made me. It has always been my anxious desire to do my duty faithfully as your Drill Instructor. I shall ever feel it a great pleasure to assist in any way the members of the First Rifles; and any information that I may possess connected with their instruction as Volunteers I shall be most happy to afford. I may be called away shortly, or I may remain here for many years, but wherever I am I shall always remember the time I have spent with you and hope and trust you will ever maintain the position you now hold in the Rifle Corps of Tasmania.”

Sergeant Manning then withdrew and Colonel Russell, who had been present at the drill, requested Captain Solly to convey to the Corps his satisfaction at the manner in which they had gone through their evolutions.’

Officially impressed naming, edge bruise, otherwise very fine SOLD

India General Service Medal 1854 one clasp : "Burma 1885 - 7" named in running script to: 1162 Pte. T. Keohane 2nd Bn.Rl.Muns.Fus.

This medal was originally found on the Geraldton rubbish tip - north of Perth. It appears the Keohane family came to Western Australia in the early 1900's.

Worthy of further research

Good/VF SOLD

Trio : QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, BRITISH WAR MEDAL AND VICTORY MEDAL. QSA with three clasps "CC, OFS, T" impressed 1153 SHG: STH: E. J. BISHOP VICTORIAN M.R. BWM and Victory Medal impressed 3303 A-SGT. E. J. BISHOP 5 PNR BN AIF.

Edward John Bishop’s Boer war service was with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles as the Farrier Corporal and all three clasps are confirmed on the roll.

Enlisted in WW1 and trained with the 44^th and 48^th Battalion prior to departing with the 5^th Pioneer Battalion

Emb: 23^rd December 1916

Taken on strength Pioneer training Bn 18^th February 1917 before proceeding to France

WIA: 30^th September 1917 (remained on duty) France

Gassed but as it was caused by mishap it is not classed as a wounding (14th May 1918) “Platoon marched into to Corbie 13.5.18 which had been gas-shelled. Billets cleared and gas proofed and men warned against gas. L/Cpl Bishop with others visited areas other than billet area, which has been badly gassed. Evacuated following day sore eyes” No disciplinary action was taken.

2^nd WIA: 23^rd July 1918 (remained on duty) France

RTA: 10^th March 1919 and discharged 5^th Military District Western Australia

A great letter in Sergeant Bishop’s records by his wife describes his service “my husband said they were turned out of the hospital before they were well enough to make room for other cases and had to do two days march about 26 miles & had only been out of bed a few days. This sort of treatment to our men, to me, lwei’s what we would only expect from the enemy.

I do not want you to get the impression that my husband is a milk of water man, he has been fighting in France for fifteen (15) months without any leave and although reported twice wounded he remained each time on duty and has only been out of the fighting line when gassed. He is now 45 years of age and fought 16 months in the South African Boer war without a day’s leave” 

VF SOLD

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

Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 1623 PTE. J. A. WILLIAMS 5/BN AIF.

EMB: 19th Feb 1915

Admitted Field Amb. Gallipoli 28th July 1915 "sick"

WIA: 14th June 1918 wounds listed as "Face and back"

RTA: 6th November 1918 reason given "G. S. W. Left arm amputation"

Note: Records further explain that Private James Alexander Williams had "Multiple gunshot wounds" which led to his left arm being amputated.

VF SOLD

Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 1431 A-L-SGT. (PTE on Star) R. P. CHARMAN 13/BN AIF.

EMB: 10^th Feb 1915 (3^rd reinforcements 13BN)

Transferred to the Anzac Railway Corps 25^th May 1916

Accidental injury 29^th Jan 1917 deafness (Train accident, Boulogne)

Promoted Lance Sergeant 16^th Oct 1917

RTA: 21^st April 1918

Note: Records report that Rupert Charman died in 1939. Also appears as number "1531" on records.

VF SOLD

Trio: 1914/15 star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 979 PTE. P. F. DOWNER 14/BN AIF.

EMB: 22ND December 1914

Admitted 4th Field Amb. Gallipoli 8th May 1915 "Diarrhoea"

Left Gallipoli for Alexandria 30th June 1915

RTA: 9th September 1915 reason given "Chronic Bronchritis"

Discharged 15th February 1916

Note: Private Percy Field Downer would have been with the battalion in the landing at Gallipoli and during the heavy fighting (April-May) of which the 14th Battalion became famous for. It is possible that he may be associated with Albert Jacka's feat that won him and Australia our very first Victoria Cross for WW1. Further research required.

VF SOLD

Pair: British war medal and Victory medal impressed to 3131 PTE T. W. LOCKETT 18 BN AIF

Previous service listed as "12 months militia"

Emb: 20^th December 1915

Transferred to the 3rd Bn AIF 14^th February 1916

WIA: 18^th August 1916 "Shell shock"

RTA: 11^th May 1919

Note: Comes with Thomas Luckett's issue medal box, Dog tag and returned from active service badge

EF SOLD

Pair: British War Medal and Victory Medal impressed to 4566 PTE A. L. WOLSTENHOLME 18 BN AIF

Emb. 9 April 1916

WIA 30 May 1918 gassed.

RTA 13 November 1919

Comes with copies of letters from Pte Wolstenholmes widow and family still applying for a widows pension in 1975. The letters state that his cause of death was mustard gassing in 1936. One letter states that he was a Military Medal winner, although there appears to be no mention of this in his records.

VF SOLD

Memorial Plaque: Correct one piece cast named to SAMUEL FENTON ROSE.

 629 Corporal Samuel Fenton Rose embarked on the 25^th June 1915 with the 18th Battalion AIF “B” Coy

 KIA 4th August 1916 Villers – Bretonneux

Note: Corporal Rose next of kin is noted as Cape town, Cape Colony South Africa

VF SOLD

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 1327 L-CPL D. McCLURE 32 BN AIF.

EMB: 18^th November 1915

WIA: 21^st July 1916 (GSW Back & Hand) classed as dangerously ill at one point and sent home when he eventually became stable.

RTA: 17^th March 1917 and subsequently discharged due to his wounds.

Good VF SOLD

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 1117 PTE H. JONES 43/BN AIF.

EMB: 9^th Jun 1916

W.I.A: G.S.W (face) 5^th Dec 1917

RTA: 12^th Jun 1919

VF SOLD

Pair: British War Medal and Victory Medal impressed to 855 Cpl. S. C. Avery 43 Bn.AIF

emb. 9 June 1916 RTA 12 Dec. (due to wounds).

WIA 18 April 1918 GSW arm

WIA 25 Aug.1918 GSW shoulder

Made L.Cpl in bombing platoon

Near VF SOLD

Pair: British War Medal and Victory Medal impressed to 213 PTE A. WRIGHT 43 BN AIF

Emb. 9th June 1916

Transferred 16th February to 3rd DIV. SAL. COY.

RTA 9th May 1919

Comes with issue boxes and badges as pictured.

 EF SOLD

East Kent Rifles Other Ranks Shako Badge c1861-1870. A fine and very rare example in die-stamped blackened metal being a crowned oval strap ‘East Kent Rifles’, in the centre the White Horse/Invicta, complete with two loop fasteners, the fasteners slightly crushed otherwise very fine condition.

SOLD

The 2nd Middlesex Militia Other Ranks Victorian Period Helmet Plate, good quality items in die stamped white metal, with central Garter motto and central ‘2/Mm’, lacking one loop fastener otherwise very good condition 

SOLD

The South Wales 4th Volunteer Battalion Other Ranks Edwardian Period Helmet Plate, good quality die stamped white metal with applied centre and title details, complete with original fasteners, very good condition

SOLD