Tift Taft collar pair U.K made. Both with clear maker mark (Note the filled in crown)
PAIR: British War and Victory Medal, both correctly impressed to 2437 SPR R. W. ULPH 3 TUN COY A.I.F.
EMB: 31st March 1916 with the No 1 Mining Corps - 2 and 3 Reinforcements (March-April 1916)
Wounded accidently in the foot 27th October 1917
On the 18th October 1918 was charged with Mutiny along with 12 others. The official charge read “Joining in a mutiny in Forces belonging to His Majesty’s Australian Imperial Forces in that they in the field on the 25th September 1918 joined in a mutiny by combining among themselves to disobey the orders of their superior officers in the execution of their duty”
Initially being sentenced to 1 year hard labour (13th October) after review or appeal it seems it was increased to 2 years (17th October). Possibly due to their skill as miners they were sent back to the front where they were needed at the same time their sentences were being finalised. After further reviews and postponements they were finally sentenced with loss of pay.
The whole ordeal seemed to be over an order previously given that all soldiers were to carry their pay books on them whilst on the front line. This is well documented and easy to find by searching 2437 Ulph in your search engine and it is well worth a read. A bizarre occurrence over a trivial matter with such a harsh sentence, which by the final outcome it seems was probably agreed with by some in command. One of the members charged was also a DCM winner.
RTA: 3rd March 1919
VF $575
P36 Trio: 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 485 SJT (PTE on star) H. DE MELKER 8/BN AIF.
Previous Service noted as “Light Horse, Vic”
EMB: 19th Oct 1914
Served in the trenches the whole Gallipoli Campaign from the Landing to the evacuation with the 8th Battalion
Transferred to 60th Battalion 24th February 1916
Killed in action 19th July 1917 in Belgium.
A red cross file exists with the following eyewitness statement; “They all went over the top on the 19th July at Fromelles. We had 440 yards to cross under heavy enemy fire and a creek to get over into the bargain. None of these men answered roll call.” Cpl Poulter
Sgt John Henry Wiltch De Melker is remembered at VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France
VF $1150
C310 Australian Army Survey Corps 61mm Brass Hat Badge
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: Maharajpoor Star 1843 Private James Fincher HM 16th Lancers.
Enlisted Dorchester 6th March 1837 in the 16th Lancers, Regimental number 1651 at the age of 23
British Army Index of 1841 records Private Fincher service number 1234 with the 16th Dragoons, Meerut
Medically discharged unfit in 1857 from the 15th Hussars due to illnesses “originating in the service and caused by long military service, as a Cavalry Soldier.” Total of 14 years and 11 months overseas service in Bengal, Bangalore and East Indies. Pension drawn from London Comes with service docs.
Near VF $1285
P32 FOUR: 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medal all correctly impressed to 323 PTE A. V. EADES 5/BN AIF. ANZAC Medallion Correctly named “E. V Eades” along with award document.
Previous Service stated as “5 years Victorian Rangers”
EMB: 21st Oct 1914
Application for ANZAC Medallion states “at the landing on Gallipoli”
Wounded in action Gallipoli 25th July 1915 “Wounded Shock”
Re-joined Battalion at Gallipoli on the 11th November 1915
Transferred to England from France for special transport duty to Australia 27th August 1918
“Returned to Australia per D22 Submarine Guard” 15th September 1918
Gd VF $1150
Single : Army Long Service & Good Conduct, George V issue, military bust. Impressed to 2306164 SJT. C. H. THOMPSON R. SIGNALS
VF S145
$200
MUD and BLOOD "Albury's Own" Second Twenty Third Australian Infantry Battalion by Pat Share.
$95
C365 12th Infantry Battalion Launceston Regiment Brass, 51mm, Hat Badge
Single: King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps 2693 PTE. G. HOPKINS CHESHIRE REGT
Near EF $155
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
C319 Royal Australian Artillery Regiment 50mm Brass Hat Badge
$60
C123 19th Kuring-Gai Infantry Regiment New South Wales Hat Badge 42mm
C252 19th Infantry Battalion The South Sydney Regiment Collar Badges 28mm
C239 6th Infantry Battalion The Royal Melbourne Regiment Officers Enamel Cap Badge 37mm
C296 56th Infantry Battalion The Riverina Regiment 32mm brass Hat Badge
