Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

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Lot 5192    Session 19 (4:30pm Friday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

TRIO TO KIA: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 5486 Gnr. A.W.Parkes. 1/F.A.Bde. A.I.F. on first medal, Lieut. A.W.Parkes. A.I.F. on last two medals. All medals impressed. Extremely fine.

Together with Mothers and Widows ribbon (AIF) with one star, numbered on reverse of suspension bar, '8791'.

Adrian Wesley Parkes, bank accountant, age 22, born at Petersham, Sydney, NSW; Enl.02Aug1915 at Holdsworthy, NSW in 1FAB 11th Reinforcements; to Gunner 02Sep1915; Emb.11Oct1915; to MEF Suez 18Nov1915; TOS 1DAC France 15May1916; to Acting Bombardier 10Sep1916; promoted in the field to A/Sgt 11Sep1916; to 2Lt 25Nov1916; TOS 1st Aust Div Trench Mortar Bty 01Dec1916; to Lt 27Feb1917; KIA 15Jul1917 France.

Report of death of Lt A.W.Parkes
'On the night of 15.7.17 the Trench Mortar Batteries were detailed to carry a certain number of bombs from a Dump on the Main Road at Ypres to a forward 6th Newton Mortar Position situated about 200 yds off that road at a point about three-quarters of a mile from the Dump. This duty took the party through the notorious "Hell Fire Corner".

The whole of the area was, on the above-mentioned night, subjected to intense enemy shell fire, including H.E. Shrapnel and Gas. The forward trip was negotiated without mishap and Lieut. Parkes was then detailed to return with a party of 10 men to bring forward a further bomb per man to complete the total number required. This party reached the Dump safely, collected their bombs and passed through "Hell Fire Corner" about 250 yds when an H.E. shell burst on the road immediately in front of the deceased Officer, wounding him severely in the chest. The party at once moved him from the road under cover of an embankment but he did not recover consciousness and died within 5 minutes of the time he was hit. He therefore suffered no pain. There were subsequently many casualties that same night owing to the intensity of the bombardment.

Next day Lieut Parkes was buried in the presence, as far as can be remembered, of Capt. H.H.Morris, Lieut. W.H.Bryan (MC) and some members of his unit in a ceremony about 180 yards from Dump and opposite the Dressing Station on the Menin Road at Ypres. Map locations are not available from records of the Unit.

Later file records dated 25Nov1925 state that the remains of the late Lt. Parkes were interred in Plot 1 Row T Grave 1 of the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.

Capt. Morris and Lt. Bryan are at present on leave and the above information is supplied and corroborated by the only two O/Ranks now with the unit, who were of the deceased Officer's party, saw him wounded and were with him till he died.'

With research.

Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.

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