Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust Groups

Lot 3597    Session 13 (2.30pm Thursday 22nd November)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust Groups

Estimate $100
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $130

PAIR: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 7180 Pte A.Burge. 34 Bn. A.I.F. Both medals impressed. Second medal with incorrect ribbon and both ribbons damaged, first medal cleaned and now re-toning, very fine.

Albert Burge, carter, age 27, born at Cooks Hill, Newcastle, NSW; Enl.04Feb1918 at Newcastle, NSW; Emb.28Feb1918 as Private with 19Bn; to 45Bn 05Jun1918; to France 15Jul1918; to 45Bn 21Jul1918; hospitalised several times with total VD period 68 days; RTA 06Sep1919 and Disemb.24Oct1919; Disch.04Dec1919; Died 24 Jul1922; Buried at the Catholic Cemetery at Sandgate; invited to attend the funeral were family and friends as well as officers and members of the City of Newcastle Lodge G.U.U.O.F. and members of the Newcastle and District Trolley Draymen and Carter Union.

Albert Burge arrived home from active service to Newcastle on Friday night 24 October 1919 and was met by the Mayoress, Mrs J.Lott, members of the Southern Cross League and the Welcome Home Committee and then taken to the home of his aunt, Mrs J.Perry, where a reception was provided with food and music. He was also a guest at a welcome home banquet at the School of Arts at Carrington staged by the Welcome Home Committee on Saturday 29 November 1919.

In February 1901 Albert Burge, aged 9, along with two other children was charged under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Act as they were members of a gang of juvenile housebreakers and accordingly they were ordered to be placed on board the nautical training ship Sobraon. As an adult, Albert Burge was charged and pleaded guilty to riotous behaviour in Hunter Street, Newcastle on 8 November 1920 for damaging a pane of glass and was fined one pound with two pounds damages. Then again he was tried for an event the day before when he had been spoken to about his behaviour in the Federal Hotel and struck the man who subsequently forcibly removed Burge from the hotel. On this occasion he was acquitted.

Once again Burge was in trouble during the Christmas period in 1920 when he was tried at Newcastle Court on 20 December for behaving in a riotous manner in Maitland Road, Tighe's Hill. It seems that a large brawl erupted outside the Federal Hotel between returned soldiers. Several people were charged and found guilty. Albert Burge pleaded not guilty and claimed a man named David Jones called him a 'nigger' (on Burge's enlistment documents he is recorded as having dark complexion, dark eyes and dark hair) and slapped him on the face. This was corroborated by a witness to the event. David Jones claimed that Burge came up to him and asked him if he wanted to fight and then struck him. Burge was fined ten shillings or alternatively 3 days imprisonment.