Sold

Group of Four: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 39/45. All medals correctly impressed to WX29300 A. SIGLIN

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

Enlisted 2^ND August 1942 into the Australian Army at Claremont, WA

Discharged 24^th May 1946

Unit on discharge listed as “17 Australian Field Ambulance”

Note: Doctor Alec Siglin was an ex Perth Modern student prior to going into Medicine. Nice grouping to a local Doctor with plenty of research potential.

Near EF SOLD

Four; 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal correctly impressed to VX65474 K. A. Sherry

Lance-Sergeant Sherry a native from Ballarat, Victoria enlisted in 1941.

He joined the 2/5th Independent Company and sailed for Port Moresby, joining Kanga Force in 1942. Tasked to reconnoitre Japanese positions at Lae and Salamaua and to conduct raids against the Japanese.

On 30 Jun, the 2/5th raided Salamaua, killing over 120 Japanese for three Australian wounded.

In the following months, the 2/5th patrolled the Huon Gulf area. When the Japanese started to concentrate around Mubo in preparation for an attack on Wau, the 2/5th raided Mubo and ambushed Japanese troops moving inland. After the battle, the 2/5th carried out more long range patrols in the Markham Valley, before returning to Australia in May.

In July 1945 the 2/5th also took part in the landing at Balikpapan, Borneo.

A very desirable Commando grouping to a Sergeant.

 VF SOLD

Group of Five : 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45 and Australian Service Medal 39/45. Defence Medal, War Medal and ASM are correctly impressed to W. 3060 S. L. SCORGIE with the stars being unnamed as often found.

Stoker Scorgie served on the HMAS Swan whilst in January 1942 it was lucky to escape when attacked by Japanese bombers. The HMAS Swan was then tasked to reinforce (Sparrow Force) in Timor where it was attacked by a force of 45 Japanese aircraft and again narrowly escaped. Whilst taking shelter in Darwin, Australia had its first attack on Australian soil and the HMAS Swan took indirect hits trying to escape the harbour. The HMAS Swan had 3 killed in action and 19 wounded. 

VF SOLD

BOUGAINVILLE. 1945-04-26. STRETCHER BEARERS CARRYING TPR C. PARKER, 2/4 ARMOURED REGIMENT (1), SHOT THROUGH THE LEG DURING 24 INFANTRY BATTALION'S ADVANCE ALONG BUIN ROAD SOUTH OF SINDOU RIVER. (AWM)

Four: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All medals correctly named to NX104229 C. PARKER

At the time of listing these medals Claude Parker’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from TANK TRACKS The history of the 2/4^th Australian Armoured (unit history);

 Chapter: South Bougainville

“Two days later a jeep moving up to a forward company was ambushed, the crews went to ground and Tprs “Happy” Cole and Claude Parker moved forward with an infanteer to clear the ambush. Claude Parker was badley wounded in the right thigh”

Comes in box of issue and photocopy of above passage but further research is required

EF SOLD

Three: War Medal, Australian Service Medal and Police Long Service Good Conduct Medal (QE11). All medals correctly named to 36801 C. A. F. GIBBS (“CHARLES ARTHUR FENNING GIBBS” on police LSGC)

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

Enlisted 19^th May 1941 into the Royal Australian Air Force in NSW

Northern Star (Lismore, NSW) dated Tuesday 16^th September 1941 reported the following “Injured in Aircraft Accident: Sgt C. A. F. Gibbs (Sydney).

Discharged 29^th January 1946 as Flying Officer

Unit on discharge listed as “5 COMMUNICATIONS UNIT”

Note: Comes with Police LSGC medal box. Further research required.

VF SOLD

Husband and Wife Grouping

Group 1; Group of Four: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939/45 and Australian Service Medal 39/45. All medals correctly impressed to V280669 F W PYGALL

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

Enlisted 24^h September 1941 Armidale Victoria

Discharged 28^th January 1947

Unit on discharge listed as “115 HEIDELBERG MILITARY HOSPITAL”

Note: A quick trove search shows that on the 24^th December 1943 Pte Pygall and a Pte Malvern were removed from being dangerously and seriously ill in the Infantry section of the casualty list. It appears he is still kept in hospital until being discharged in 1947, further research required

Group 2; Pair: War Medal 1939/45 and Australian Service Medal 39/45. Both medals correctly impressed to VFX128550 B. M. PYGALL

Note: Betty Pygall enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Women’s service, Heidelberg, Victoria which appears to be a classical romance story from taking care of a soldier in hospital.

Near 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

Pair: Korea 1950-53, U.N. Korea 1950-54 impressed to “37374 E. F. P. GIBB.”

Note: Stoker Eric Francis served in the RAN on the HMAS Warramunga (14^th Aug 1950-17^th May 1951) and HMAS Bataan (18^th May 1951-6^th June 1951). 

The Warramunga was an extremely active ship in Korea, the following extract shows an insight in to her operations;

“Late on 5 February Warramunga and USS Lind detached and proceeded north to 38° 05' on the coast where LIND had previously landed an intelligence party. This party had been captured by the North Koreans who, using the team’s equipment, arranged a rendezvous with LIND. Unbeknown to the enemy, their deception was discovered and the two destroyers planned an unpleasant surprise. Right on time the enemy showed the prearranged signal.

Warramunga’s commander commented ‘USS Lind asked me if light was bright enough for an aiming mark and I replied it could be brighter. The enemy obliged by turning up to full brilliancy. We then opened up as fast as we could fire. I expended 59 rounds 4.7 inch and LIND about the same amount. The light went out. Subsequent intelligence confirmed that one North Korean company, some North Korean police and a large Intelligence team who were assembled as a reception committee were mostly killed or wounded. As the range was less than 3,000 yards and the fire was extremely rapid the result was not surprising.”

Comes with original box of issue.

Near EF SOLD

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 2838 PTE W. B. PEBEROY 34/BN.

Previous service (no star) ENL. 4^th Nov 1915

Discharged 14^th Dec 1915 (varicose veins)

EMB: 25^th Nov 1916 4^thBN

Transferred 34^thBN 10^th Aug 1917

RTA: 11^th Jan 1919

 GOOD VF SOLD

LT Gubbins Victorian Mounted Rifles is standing top left in group photo

Group of six; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa five clasps “Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902” (2/Lieut. S. Gubbins, Rl. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (Major S. Gubbins, R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. S. Gubbins),

It appears Stamer Gubbins was born in New Zealand on passage to Australia in 1882. Gubbins family settled in Melbourne where he was educated at Melbourne Grammar School. Joining the 5th Contingent, Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1900 as a lieutenant at the age of 18, he served in South Africa during the Boer War. After serving his full tour with the 5^th VMR he went on to serve in the Royal Fusiliers in 1902.

Having then been seconded to the West African Frontier Force in Nigeria 1904-09, and been advanced to Major, Gubbins was embarked for France in June 1915, where he commanded the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers from August of that year until May 1916.It was during this period that he won his D.S.O. for the Battalion’s attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt (a.k.a. The Chord) on 2 March. On that occasion, the attack was launched at 5.45 p.m. with the detonation of seven mines, the largest of which was intended to wreck the bulk of The Chord. Certainly the earth thrown up by the mines partly covered the enemy’s wire, thereby allowing Gubbins’s men - and the neighbouring 8th Battalion - to gain access to the enemy’s defences, but not without significant loss. As stated in The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War, the 9th Battalion ‘found many Germans in their sector of The Chord who, though dazed, did not surrender and had to be killed. There followed a number of fierce grenade fights, the Germans rushing down from the north end of The Chord and along the trenches leading from the east into it ... but the craters were held against enemy bombing attacks during the night.’

D.S.O. London Gazette 15 April 1916:

‘This officer commanded his Battalion in an attack, the success of which was due to the excellent organisation he had established in his Battalion, and to the fighting spirit he had fostered in it.’ 

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

“For valuable service rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt”

Gubbins, who was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 15 June 1916, refers), later served in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, services that resulted in his award of the O.B.E. After a long adventure away from Australia, Gubbins finally returned in 1938 with his wife. He died in 1940.

Mounted as worn, minor enamel damage to wreaths on the first, otherwise good very fine SOLD

Single; Crimea medal one clasp "Alma". Officially Impressed to J. YOUNG 55th REGT. On the roll as wounded in Alma and subsequently died at Scutari in 1854.

Comes with a letter home of 4 pages of stop start writing, almost like a diary where he describes the arrival of the wounded from the Charge of the Light Brigade to Scutari. Also included is an official disbursement of his assets, An official letter regarding the medal plus an Official envelope addressed to his Sister in Easey Street Collingwood Melbourne Australia.

A choice Crimea to a casualty with extremely rare Ephemera and a bonus Australian connection.

Small EK at 6 o'clock otherwise EF SOLD

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 50947 PTE H. C. STEWART 35/BN AIF.

Previous service, 4 years & 5 months SNR. Cadets Holsworthy

EMB: 8^th May 1918 19^thBN

To join 35^thBN 17^th Oct 1918

RTA: 26^th Aug 1919

 GOOD VF SOLD

PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 2723 PTE H. R. MARKS 46/BN AIF.

EMB: 20^th Oct 1916

W.I.A: 11^th Apr 1917 (shell shock)

RTA: 26^th Sep 1917

EF SOLD

Pair: British War Medal and Victory Medal impressed to 3972 PTE G. V. R. WILLIAMS. 22 BN AIF

Emb. 8th February 1916

Accidently injured. 28th March 1917.  "scalded left leg"

WIA 4th October 1917 G. S. W. Left shoulder

2nd WIA 19th May 1918 G. S. W. Face

3rd WIA 23rd July 1918 Gassed

4th WIA 12th October 1918 G. S. W Abdomen

RTA 1st July 1919 due to termination of period of enlistment (not medically unfit!)

Not surprisingly with being wounded in action FOUR times Private Williams record states "Died after discharge".

Very impressive service to say the least.

 BWM suspender repaired with wire. VF SOLD

Four: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All medals correctly named to VX147459 G. W. JACOBS

Sapper Glen William Jacob signed up on the 15^th of October 1943 with the WW2 nominal roll interestingly shows the following as his location on enlistment

The roll shows that he discharged as part of the 4^th Aust Dock’s Opp Coy on the 30^th of October 1945.  At the time of listing these medals, Glen William Jacob’s service records were still sealed and as a result no further information is available about his Pacific service until his file is opened.

Note: With the curious comment stating enlistment in New Guinea, this group has great potential for a fascinating story with further research.

Near EF SOLD

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

SOLD

SOLD

Good overall condition with captions and photos all being clear SOLD

WWI LARGE SURVEY MAPS ON LINEN BACKING FRANCE ISSUE TITLED NORTH WEST EUROPE 30

With very heavy folds, moisture affected and aged as to be expected of maps carried in the line.

Very good - fine and scarce. SOLD

SOLD

Single; Crimea medal one clasp "Alma". Officially Impressed to J. YOUNG 55th REGT. On the roll as wounded in Alma and subsequently died at Scutari in 1854.

Comes with a letter home of 4 pages of stop start writing, almost like a diary where he describes the arrival of the wounded from the Charge of the Light Brigade to Scutari. Also included is an official disbursement of his assets, An official letter regarding the medal plus an Official envelope addressed to his Sister in Easey Street Collingwood Melbourne Australia.

A choice Crimea to a casualty with extremely rare Ephemera and a bonus Australian connection

Small EK at 6 o'clock otherwise EF SOLD

A Christmas Gift with Christmas Greetings to the Men of Canterbury, N. Z. Fighting for the Empire. From the Editor and Readers of “The Press” Christchurch, New Zealand Christmas 1915.

SOLD

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