Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 4585    Session 16 (9:30am Friday 3rd August)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $3,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,200

FAMILY GROUP: (Brother 1) Group of Five: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937. 826 Pte E.J.Richards. 11/Bn. A.I.F. on first medal, Lieut. E.J.Richards. A.I.F. on second and third medals, last two medals unnamed as issued. Named medals impressed. (Brother 2) Pair: War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. V206780 L.J.Richards. Both medals impressed. The first group court mounted, some contact marks on second and third medals, otherwise very fine - good very fine, the second pair very fine.

Together with a swing mounted matching set of miniatures for first group; Returned from Active Service badge (WWI AIF), reverse numbered 265402; Air Force Association lapel badge (KC), reverse numbered 730; AFC Pilot's embroidered wings; Australian Airmen, History of the 4th Squadron Australian Flying Corps, compiled by Lieut. E.J.Richards (the above medal recipient).

Jubilee Medal 1935 to Edward John Richards, Mgr, The Provincial Daily Press, Vic (entitlement confirmed).

Coronation Medal 1937 to Edward John Richards, Mgr, Aust United Press (entitlement confirmed).

Edward John Richards, journalist, age 26, born at Tyrendarra, Vic; Enl.10Sep1914 at Blackboy Hill (Bellevue), WA with previous service in Senior cadets; Emb.02Mar1915 for Gallipoli and with 11 Bn at the Landing on 25Apr1915; to Temp Cpl 17Sep1915; reverted to Pte 15Oct1915; RTA 03Jan1916 as invalid due to Enteric Fever and sent home for 'Change for Three Months'; to 2/Lieut 01Oct1916; Emb.04Aug1917; Joined No.1 School of Military Aeronautics at Reading, England for Pilot training 07Dec1917; Attch'd to 5th Training Sqdn (AFC) for elementary instruction in aviation 29Jan1918; graduated as Flying Officer (Pilot) 11Jun1918; to No.1 School of Fighting at Turnberry 02Aug1918; TOS 4Sqdn AFC 08Sep1918; to Lieut 11Sep1918; RTA 06May1919; Appt terminated 16Jul1919; Died 13Jul1968.

Leslie James Richards, born 05Jan1892 at Casterton, Vic: Enl.20Apr1942 at Ripponlea, Vic; Disch.08Sep1948 as Cpl ex 3MD Army Records Office.

Edward John Richards was a journalist. After he enlisted, he wrote many articles from the war with several published in the larger West Australian newspapers. In the Kalgoorlie Sun newspaper one mention of him was as follows - 'The best war stuff that is being sent from Gallipoli to this State is from the pen of E.R.Richards of Northam. Before enlisting he was a compositor on the local paper. His literary talents were unsuspected until he was in khaki.'

An example of his articles that covered the period from enlistment through to war service included one account from Gallipoli written on Saturday May 15 and published in The Northam Advertiser (WA) on Saturday 3 July 1915, pp3-4. The first paragraph reads, 'When this letter (written less than a hundred yards distant from the firing line) reaches you, the heroic achievements of the 11th Battalion - West Australia's first contribution to Kitchener's Army - during the landing of the Allied forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula will be deeds of the slowly-fading past. To the many loving hearts, anxiously awaiting news of sons and brothers serving with the colours, the days and weeks that have passed since that memorable 25th of April will doubtless have seemed of interminable duration, but the reckless courage and strong determination of Australia's sons will keep that Sabbath morning so clearly distinct in Australian hearts that it will appear but of yesterday. The story of the landing and subsequent charge will long ere this have been told and re-told by the press of the world, but maybe much can yet be written that will interest the people of the Northam district.'

After returning from the war E.J.Richards wrote Australian Airmen, History of the 4th Squadron Australian Flying Corps, 80pp, hard cover, published in 1922. When he died in 1968 news reports stated that he was a former managing editor of Australian United Press and was in fact one of the founders of the Melbourne-based AUP when it was expanded from provincial press in the late 1920s. He retired in 1955 after being the managing editor for more than 20 years.

With copy of Service File and other research.