Aust. Historical Medals

Lot 958    SESSION 4 (4.30PM MONDAY 30TH AUGUST)    Aust. Historical Medals

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $6,500

NSW RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRIZE MEDALS, includes N.S.W. Rugby Football League, 1908, in gold (9ct; 7.32g; 27mm), reverse inscribed, 'Eastern Suburbs/Premiers/2nd Grade/C.Lees.'; NSWRFL Premiers 1911, in gold (9ct; 18.06g; 34mm), by Angus & Coote, Sydney, fancy voided floral suspension, reverse inscribed, 'First Grade./Premiership Medals./1911./Eastern Suburbs District/Winners./C.Lees.'; NSWRFL, 1912, in gold (9ct; 19.64g; 34mm), by Angus & Coote, scroll suspender, reverse inscribed, 'NSW Rugby Football/League/1912./Eastern Suburbs./District Club./1st Grade Premiers./C.Lees.'; NSW Rugby Football League, 1914, in gold (9ct; 15.67g; 32x40mm), by W.Kerr, with fancy scroll suspension, reverse inscribed, 'Eastern Suburbs/District Club/City Cup/Competition./C.Lees.'; also a small flat-backed gold plated football (9.5x14mm), by Harry Young and with loop suspension . The first with a dent on the domed centre and suspension missing, the third with a gem stone missing from the centre claw setting, otherwise very fine and a rare set of NSWRFL medals. (5)

Charlie Lees was born at Woollahra, Sydney, NSW in 1887. He was a forward with the Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club playing as a second-rower, a prop and lock. He was in the premiership winning 2nd grade team in 1908 and was a member of the club's first premiership winning first grade team in 1911 and was his team's only try scorer in the match. He followed this up with premiership wins in 1912 and 1913 playing alongside Dally Messenger, who captained the team in all three years, and in the 1913 super side every team member had represented either Australia or NSW. He also won the City Cup Competition with his club in 1914, 1915 and 1916. The City Cup was a post season tournament inaugurated in 1912. Competitions were held in 1912-1925, 1937, 1942 and 1959.

Charlie Lees played 152 matches for the Eastern Suburbs Club and was one of the first to play in 100 matches. In 1913 he was selected to represent NSW, playing in 4 games and on 12 January 1931 he was recognised with the awarding of Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League, being one of two selected from 21 nominations. He died at Rose Bay, Sydney, NSW on 21 June 1976.