Other Properties -Australian Singles and Groups

Lot 2190    Session 7 (11.30am Wednesday)    Other Properties -Australian Singles and Groups

Estimate $400
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $750

BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1914-18 AND CIVILIAN RESCUE AWARD. 9201 MT-DVR H.J.Plunkett. AMC. A.I.F. Impressed. Extremely fine.

Together with 15ct gold medal (25mm; 5.3gm), hand crafted and engraved, obverse, 'Presented/By/Farrow/Concert/Committee/To/Constable Plunkett', reverse, 'For/Brave effort to/Save Life and/Bus (?) in Flood/27.5.89/Canterbury N.S.W.'; also silver shooting medal (33mmx29mm), crossed rifle on shield with garter belt around, obverse, 'H.Plunkett', reverse, 'N.S.W.Rifle Clubs' Union 1902-3/A Grade/2nd/Police R.C.' Driver Henry James Plunkett, born Bristol, England, age 45, Sergeant of Police, joined NSW Police Force c1886; Enl.17Jul1915 at Warwick Farm; previous volunteer service with 4 Coy 2nd Regt Infy 1878-9; Emb.22Dec1915 with Dermatological Hospital, AMC; 28Sep1916 AMC Training Depot; 13Oct1916 detached for service with Bulford Military Hospital; 25Jun1917 to France; 26Sep1917 Medical Board hearing at Havre classified Plunkett as 'PB' age and debility and sent to England; RTA 01Nov1917; Disch.12Feb1918; name recorded on NSW Police Chapel War Memorial. Rescue award: On the weekend of 25-27 May 1889, seventeen inches of rain fell in Sydney and all the low lying land was flooded, especially the river flats of Campsie, Canterbury and Marrickville. At about 1 pm on 27 May on the return trip, the driver of the Canterbury horse-bus found that the water had covered the bridge much more than on its earlier, outward trip. Nevertheless, he tried to cross the bridge and during the crossing the four horses attached to the vehicle were swept off their feet, and the animals and bus were swept away. The fare boy and all four horses were drowned and the bus smashed to a heap of splintered driftwood. Fortunately the driver and passenger managed to reach safety, being dragged out of the floodwaters by rescuers. No confirmation can be found but it is thought that this is the rescue for which Constable Plunkett was recognised.