Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Singles

Lot 4545    Session 16 (9:30am Friday 3rd August)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Singles

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,000

MILITARY CROSS (GRI) WITH BAR. Lieut. W.R.C.McNaught 41st Battery A.I.F. Engraved. Extremely fine.

Together with case of issue.

MC: LG 19/11/1917, p11953; CAG 7/8/1918, p1660 to Lieut W.R.C.McNaught, 41 Aust Field Arty Battery. Pending issue of the medal, the ribbon for the Military Cross was presented to Lieut McNaught by General Birdwood on 14Nov1917 at Morbecque, a French village.

Recommendation: For conspicuous gallantry at the 41st Battery position near Westhoek, East of Ypres. About 8.30 a.m. on the 26th September 1917, while the 41st battery was under heavy 8" and 5.9" shell fire, one gun-pit was hit, camouflage and an adjacent ammunition dump were set alight and commenced to burn and explode. Regardless of the continued heavy shell fire and imminent danger from our own exploding ammunition, Lieutenant McNaught with another Officer and N.C.O. immediately rushed to the spot and worked with buckets and tins of water until several fires were extinguished. The gallant and timely action of this officer not only saved the guns and about one thousand rounds of 18-pr. ammunition, but set a splendid example to all ranks of soldierly conduct and devotion to duty.

Bar to MC: LG 7/11/1918, p13144; CAG 4/3/1919, p373 to Captain W.R.C.McNaught 118th Aust (Howitzer) Battery.

Recommendation for MID but awarded a Bar to MC instead: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations near Cerisy-Gailly on the 8th August 1918. While his Battery was under close range and direct enfilade fire from North of the Somme, this Officer by his cool courage and judgment, not only safely extricated his guns, but by his personal example, inspired and assisted his men under a very trying shellfire and throughout a critical period. It was due to his efforts that the Battery was enabled to change its position with comparatively few casualties.

William Robert Creen McNaught, wholesale druggist, age 21, born at South Yarra, Vic; application for commission as 2/Lieutenant approved 13Jan1916; Enl.03Mar1916 at Melbourne, Vic with prior service in School Cadets and currently serving in AFA Militia as Lieutenant; to Lieutenant 01May1916; Emb.20May1916; TOS 8 Fld Arty Bde 10Jan1917; trf to 12 (Army) Fld Arty Bde 04Feb1917; TOS 4 DAC 15Mar1917; TOS 11 FAB 18Mar1917 and posted to 111 Bty; awarded MC 22Oct1917; TOS 4 DAC 06Nov1917 and promoted to Capt; TOS 10 FAB 15May1918; awarded Bar to MC 16Sep1918; while convalescing from burns approval given to take up a course in Commercial Chemistry at the South of England College of Pharmacy; RTA 23Sep1919; Appt terminated 25Jan1920.

With research including Service File and photos.