Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 5218    Session 19 (4:30pm Friday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $440

MBE GROUP OF FIVE: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Member) (Civil) (type 2); Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal (EIIR) 1953. First medal unnamed, NX109855 I.E.Layton on second to fourth medals, I.E.Layton on last medal. The last medal engraved, the other named medals impressed. Swing mounted, good very fine.

Entitled to 1939-45 Star.

Together with case for MBE; a matching swing mounted set of miniatures; various riband bars (5) and loose ribbons (3). Also, the following badges and medals:- Rising Sun oxidised bronze hat badge; Returned from Active Service badge (WWII); RSL member's badge (3 figure type); Aust Legion of Ex-Servicemen & Women member's badge; Dutch Army in Exile (Free Netherlands Forces) pin back bronze cap badge; The Clarence River Bridge 1932 badge in gilt and enamel by E.H.Strauss, Jeweller, Grafton, for opening of the bridge at Grafton on 19 July 1932; Australian Celebrations for Coronation of King George VI 1937 medals in silvered bronze (3, 2 different types); Australia's 150th Anniversay 1938 medalet in bronze; Grafton District G.C. (Golf Club) Associates Monthly Medal; M.U.I.O.O.F. N.S.W. badge; Orange keyring medal; The Cathedral Church of St John The Divine, New York, medal in gilt.

MBE: LG 12/6/1965, p5494 in Queen's Birthday Honours awarded to Ivan Edward Layton, Esq. for services to the community, particularly as Executive Officer of the Melbourne Legacy Club, State of Victoria.

Ivan Edward Layton, born 16May1914 at Grafton, NSW; Enl.23Jul1942, location unknown; Disch.01Aug1946 as Lieutenant ex Advanced LHQ; Died 15Sep1979.

During the 1938 centenary celebrations, Ivan Layton, Hon. Secretary of Grafton High School Old Students' Union, was instrumental in the organisation and conduct on behalf of the Celebrations Committee for handling the Grand Centenary Ball at Grafton. He was also a member of the Grafton MUIOOF Star of the East Lodge and was conductor and pianist of the orchestra.

During WWII, while on leave in Australia in December 1945 to visit his parents in Grafton, it was reported that Captain Ivan Layton had been serving as personal staff-captain to Commander-in-Chief General Sir Thomas Blamey on advanced staff headquarters of the AMF. In this role, he personally witnessed the Second Japanese Army surrender to the C. in C. at Morotai on Sunday 9 September 1945. He was also present in late August 1945 at General Douglas Macarthur's Headquarters in Manilla when 16 Japanese envoys headed by the Vice-Chief of the Imperial Staff arrived to discuss the terms of surrender. General Blamey having retired, Captain Layton was posted to the Australian Corps of Signals as personal staff-captain to Major-General C.H.Simpson, Signal Officer-in-Chief of the AMF.

Also while on leave Captain Layton, who had organised the annual ambulance concert and many other functions at Grafton including those as Assistant Scout Master (later Scout Master) of Grafton, organised and presented the first short-wave concert programme from the mainland to a forward area in New Guinea. The show was a resounding success with the troops in Morotai so another, even better show, was quickly arranged. This second show prompted the Acting Chief-of-Staff of the AMF, Maj-General E.J.Milford, to write a letter of commendation to Captain Layton.

In about 1947 Ivan Layton moved to Melbourne where he started his own business and also became involved with the Melbourne Legacy Club. During the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Ivan Layton visited England for the celebrations, was a spectator at the coronation procession, and also visited Russian sattelite countries.

With copy of Gazette page.