Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Singles

Lot 5139    Session 19 (4:30pm Friday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Singles

Estimate $700
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $700

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899, (type 3 reverse), - two clasps - Transvaal, South Africa 1902. 2416 Corpl: W.A.Eadie. Aus:Com:H. Impressed. Nice mottled toning, very fine.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 69 (lot 1012).

William Aitken Eadie, 4th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse (South Australia).

When William Eadie died on 29 November 1937, the following was written in tribute to him.

'DEATH OF MR. W.EADIE, VICTORIA PARK CARETAKER, SOLDIER AND STUD GROOM

While it was not unexpected, the death at 12.45 on Monday morning (sic) last at the District Hospital, of Mr. W.Eadie, former caretaker of Victoria Park, has occasioned widespread and profound expressions of regret in the community. He was an old gentleman and the work he had done in Victoria Park will stand for many years as a memorial to him in Yass.

There are a few men in every community who are, because of some inborn characteristic, liked by everyone, and Bill Eadie, familiarly but respectfully known as 'Old Bill,' was such a man in Yass. Like the hundreds of thoroughbreds he cared for during his lifetime, he too came from good stock.

The late Mr. Eadie, it will be remembered, was the unfortunate victim of a motor car accident during the rain last Sunday week night. He was walking back to his residence in Victoria Park when he was struck by a motor car in Laidlaw Street and sustained very serious injuries. On account of his age, 72 years, it was doubtful from the outset if he would recover. Under the sad circumstances it was probably a happy release, but had misfortune not overtaken him he might have lived for another ten years and seen the fruits of his labor in Victoria Park, to say nothing of his caring for 'Sunny Jim,' the town's pet kangaroo.

All the townspeople paid their last respects to a soldier and a lover of horses, at the funeral, which was conducted by Mr. W.H.Mclntosh, with military honours, to the Presbyterian cemetery at 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon last. The late Mr. Eadie, who has relatives in Victoria, was born at Sunbury in that State. He was one of the best-known racing men in this State and Victoria. He spent the major part of his life caring for stud sires in the two States. He had an inborn love for horses and was there ever a true lover of horses who was not a good man? He was well known by all the owners of leading horse studs and he followed racing from A to Z. Betting, however, was his weakness. He probably had no regrets.

Mr. Eadie fought in the South African War and enlisted in the Great War, but the authorities thought he was too old for active service. Mr. Eadie thought otherwise and he found his way to the other side in charge of horses for the troops.

For the last seven or eight years prior to his appointment as caretaker at Victoria Park for the Municipal Council, he was stud groom for Messrs. P. M. and J. L.Bourke, at historic Cooma Cottage. He was a well educated man and was a member of the Veterinary Surgeons' Association of N.S.W. before the advent of University trained men. 'He was a man who understood his job well,' was the tribute paid to him on Monday morning by Mr. P.M.Bourke. Mr. Eadie's work in Victoria Park, which was the subject of an article in the 'Tribune-Courier' a few weeks ago, is recent history. Ald. Scot Dickson who collaborated with the late Mr. Eadie in all the good work he did at the Park, visited him at the Hospital on Sunday night and had a few words with him. Mr. Eadie regularly attended the Soldiers' Club, where he will be greatly missed. Flags at the Memorial Hall were flown at half-mast on Monday.

An inquest concerning the death of William Aitken Eadie was formally opened at the Court House on Monday morning by the District Coroner, Mr. S. C.Sleeman, and adjourned till 2 o'clock on Friday afternoon.'