Orders Decorations & Medals - Militaria

Lot 5098    SESSION 19 (4.30PM FRIDAY 28 JULY)    Orders Decorations & Medals - Militaria

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $350

AUSTRALIAN TRENCH ART CIGARETTE CASE, made of brass (75x53mm), lift up top lid, with polished Rising Sun hat badge (KC) fitted to one side and on the other side is inscribed, 'Lt.Colonel William Grant/1912/A.L.H'. Polished, otherwise fine.

Brig-Gen William Grant gave the order for his unit, 4 Light Horse Brigade, to charge cavalry-style at the Battle of Beersheba and was recognised for his outstanding leadership by the award of a Bar to his DSO.



William Grant, born 30Sep1870 at Stawell, Vic; graduated from University of Melbourne with Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in 1893; purchased Bowenville Station, Darling Downs, Qld in 1894 and became a grazier; commissioned as an officer in Qld Mounted Infy reserve forces 01Jan1901; appt'd Lt-Col 18Dec1911 in command of 11LHR; Enl.22Mar1915 and appt'd CO 11LHR; Emb.02Jun1915; landed at Gallipoli 29Aug1915 as CO 9LHR; tfr to 11LHR 22Feb1916; 13Aug1917 to be CO of 3LH Bde as temp Brig-Gen; 13Sep1917 to 4LH Bde as CO and promoted to Colonel and retains temp rank of Brig-Gen whilst CO; 04Nov-15Dec1918 was GOC Aust Mounted Div with Egyptian Expeditionary Force; RTA 29Apr1919 as OC Troops on SS Dorset; appt terminated 11Aug1919.



Brig-Gen William Grant was recognised with the following honours and decorations:- Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) LG 3/6/19, p6922, CAG 6/10/19, p1462; Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) LG 15/4/19, CAG 23/7/19, p1172; Distinguished Service Order (DSO) LG 1/1/17, p26, CAG 29/6/17, p1389; Bar to the DSO, LG 18/1.1918, p953, CAG 23/5/1918, p1125; Order of the Nile 3rd Class, LG 9/11/1918, p12374, CAG 14/3/19, p421; Mention in Despatches (MID), four times LG 1/12/1916, 12/1/1918, 5/6/1919, 11/6/1920 and CAG 19/4/1917, 23/5/1918, 6/10/1919, 2/9/1920



Bar to DSO: Recommendation for Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary Brigadier-General) William Grant D.S.O., 11th Australian Light Horse Regiment, (commanding 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade). On the evening of 31st October 1917, showed conspicuous dash and determination in the manner in which he handled his Brigade. Quickly appreciating the situation, he ordered his regiments to charge into the town of Beersheba, which they did, jumping the Turkish trenches which were being held at the time. It was owing to this Officer's promptness that the town was occupied in time to take a large number of prisoners.



Vendor advises that the cigarette case was found behind a fireplace overmantel at Gardener Avenue, Ryde, NSW.



With research.