Australian Groups

Lot 5067    SESSION 15 (Friday 2.30pm)    Australian Groups

Estimate $700,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF EIGHT: Victoria Cross; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; British War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal (GVIR) 1937; Coronation Medal EIIR 1953 (EIIR). No. 588 Pte. W.Jackson. 17th Bn. Aus. Imp. Force. on reverse of suspension bar and 25 & 26 June 1916 on centre reverse of first medal; 588 Pte W.Jackson 17/Bn A.I.F. on second, third and fourth medals; N107906 J.W.Jackson on fifth and sixth medals; last two medals unnamed. (Note the difference of initials from WWI to WWII. As explained below, Jackson's correct name was J.W.Jackson but in WWI he enlisted under the name W.Jackson). All medals impressed. Medals swing mounted and in a special leather plush storage case with gilt border and bearing gilt initials W.J. all by Spink & Son, London. Very fine.

Together with the following; 1. Ceremonial presentation case for Victoria Cross by Hancocks & Co, London, the manufacturers of the Victoria Cross. The leather plush case with gilt border bears the gilt inscription, "Private William Jackson, V.C. / 17 Battallion A.I.F. / Nov. 18 1916." 2. Souvenir book with the compliments of The Hon.Hugh D.McIntosh, M.L.C. for Dinner offered by Mr Hugh D.McIntosh to the Heroes of the A.I.F. on whom His Majesty the King conferred the Victoria Cross for Valour, Hotel Australia on the night of Armistice Day, November 11th, 1919. This special presentation book is suede covered and impressed in gilt with a Victoria Cross supported within a laurel wreath and with the words "For Valour" above. On the lower left corner in gilt letters is the name "Pte. Wm. Jackson. V.C." Autographs inside the book include the following V.C. recipients; Sgt R.R.Inwood, Cpl W.Dunstan, Cpl A.C.Hall, Sgt G.J.Howell, Lt A.C.Borella, L/Cpl W.Peeler, Sgt A.D.Lowerson, Pte W.M.Curry, Capt P.V.Storkey, Lt G.Ingram, Lt J.Maxwell, Pte J.Ryan, Lt J.Hamilton. 3. Victoria Cross & George Cross Association silk tie by Hope Brothers Ltd, London & Provinces. The Association was formed during the Victoria Cross Centenary celebrations in June 1956 originally as the Victoria Cross Association and in 1962, at the 3rd Reunion, George Cross recipients were invited to full membership and the name was changed to the Victoria Cross & George Cross Association. 4. Christmas Card from the Chairman and Officers, The Victoria Cross Association with an image of the Victoria Cross on the front, a photo of Queen Elizabeth II inside and a piece of Victoria Cross coloured ribbon securing the inside insert. 5. Invitation from Her Majesty's Government to Mr W.Jackson, V.C. to attend the celebrations to be held at London on 25th and 26th June 1956 to mark the Centenary of the institution of the Victoria Cross. It is of interest to note that these celebrations were held exactly forty years to the day after Jackson's V.C. action on 25th and 26th June 1916. 6. V.C.Centenary Celebrations Admission Ticket No. 49 for a Garden Party at Marlborough House, Pall Mall on 26th June 1956. 7. Admission Ticket No. 49 to Mr W.Jackson, V.C. for Presentation of Colours to the 1st Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment by Her Majesty the Queen, Home Park Private, Windsor Castle, 21st July, 1956. 8. Admission Ticket to Westminister Abbey for Service of Commemoration to mark the Centenary of the Institution of the Victoria Cross, Monday, 25th June 1956. 9. Entree Card to The Official Stand at Fleet Steps, Farm Cove on 3rd February, 1954 for Royal Visit to New South Wales. 10. Invitation to Mr W.Jackson, V.C. to a State Dinner at David Jones Restaurant 4th February 1954. 11. Certificate from Her Majesty the Queen, Buckingham Palace forwarding Coronation Medal to William Jackson, Esquire, V.C., M.M. to be worn in commemoration of Her Majesty's Coronation 2nd June 1953. Note incorrect reference to M.M. 12. Services Rendered Badge No A25605 dated 1948. 13. Returned Sailors' Soldiers' & Airmans' Imperial Australia League Badge for 1959, No. V38910. 14. Enamelled 17th Battalion colour patch lapel badge. 15. Sniders and Abrahams Pty Ltd cigarette card featuring a colour photo with the name below, Private W.Jackson, V.C., D.C.M. Note the incorrect reference to the D.C.M. 16. Photo album containing various newspaper articles relating to Jackson and one in particular, dated 16th October 1918, shows a photo of Jackson on a stage with an Army officer where he is helping raise money for Dependents' Day. In the background is a large sign bearing the name Private Jackson V.C., D.C.M. Another incorrect reference to the D.C.M. Also in the album is an Australia Post stamp pack issued in 2000 to commemorate the centenary of the first awarding of the Victoria Cross to a serving Australian. Recommendation for Victoria Cross by G.O.C. 5th Australian Infantry Brigade dated 18th July 1916, "For his gallantry on the night of 25/26th June, 1916, in rescuing wounded men under fire. While returning from a successful raid on the German trenches, South of Armentieres, several members of the Raiding Party were seriously wounded in NO MAN'S LAND by hostile shell fire. Private Jackson returned safely to our lines through a most intense barrage of shrapnel, H.S. and crossed Machine Gun fire, escorting a prisoner. Hearing that some of his party had been hit, Private Jackson handed his prisoner over and immediately returned into NO MAN'S LAND into the enemy's barrage and assisted in bringing in a wounded man. He then went out again, notwithstanding the fact that the hostile bombardment was more intense than ever, and with Sgt. Camden, 19th Battalion, A.I.F., was bringing in Pte. Robinson (who was seriously wounded) when a shell exploded close by. Private Jackson's right arm was blown off above the elbow, Robinson was wounded again and Sgt. Camden knocked unconscious. As Jackson could not do anything by himself, he returned to our trenches, obtained assistance and went out again to search for his two comrades. They were however, met just outside our trenches. Private Jackson's condition was serious; but throughout he showed wonderful fortitude. His work with the Raiding Party as a Scout and also with his battalion in the same capacity has always been of the highest order marked with the greatest coolness dash and bravery." Citation for Victoria Cross, "For most conspicuous bravery. On the return from a successful raid, Private Jackson came back safely, handed over two prisoners he had brought back and immediately went out again. He was bringing in a wounded Sergeant when his right arm was blown off by a shell, and the Sergeant rendered unconscious. Returning to our trenches he obtained assistance and went out again to look for his wounded comrade. He set a splendid example of pluck and determination and his work has always been marked by the greatest coolness and bravery." First Supplement No. 29740 to the London Gazette of 8th September 1916; Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 184 14th December 1916." In the book "They Dared Mightily", edited by Lionel Wigmore, the action for which Private Jackson was awarded the Victoria Cross is described as follows, "This raid was one of a number conducted in the Armentieres sector, as part of a programme of harassing enterprises against the enemy lines. They were begun after the preparatory artillery barrage for the Somme battle had commenced, and continued until after the commencement of the infantry attack. On this occasion - the night of 25th-26th June - the raiders consisted of nine officers and seventy-three other ranks, all volunteers from the 5th Brigade. Captain K.Heritage, 19th Battalion, was O.C. The raiders found themselves confronted by a deep ditch protected by wire. Machine-gun fire was continually sweeping over them, but by keeping low they avoided it. The troops managed to cross the ditch by a foot-bridge leading to an enemy listening post. Soon after, most were actually in the German trenches, whose garrison had taken shelter in dug-outs from the covering barrage. Only token resistance was offered, and it was soon overcome. Engineers with the party got to work and blew up two bomb-stores. Withdrawing some five minutes later, the enemy brought down artillery fire on No Man's Land and casualties began to occur. The Germans also organised a counter attack, and two minutes after the raiders had left could be heard bombing their way back along their own trench. It was after the return of Jackson with his prisoner that he insisted on returning to bring in one of the thirteen casualties sustained on the way back. This done, he set off to bring in another. Although terribly wounded in this unsuccesful attempt he returned, got the assistance he needed, and went out for the fourth time, to search for the sergeant and the wounded man they had been helping in. Only sheer will-power carried him through the last expedition, but he had the satisfaction of escorting to safety one of the men concerned. His arm, which had been hanging only by some loose tissue, had to be amputated." William Jackson was born, John William Alexander Jackson, on 13th September 1897 at Gunbar, near Hay in New South Wales. His father's first name was also John so it is understandable that he became known as William or Bill. A farm labourer, he put his age up by one year when he enlisted on 15 February 1915 under the name William Jackson and was posted to B Coy, 17th Battalion, 5th Infantry Brigade. After a stint fighting on Gallipoli he was hospitalised with dysentery. Upon recovery he rejoined his unit which moved to serve in France on the Western Front. It was for his gallant actions here that he was awarded the Victoria Cross at the age of 18. Thus he became the youngest Australian to be so honoured and when he returned to Australia, reaching New South Wales on 5th July 1917, he became the first WWI Victoria Cross recipient to return and accordingly received a huge reception both at Sydney and also at his hometown of Gunbar. Confusion surrounded Jackson's award as he was originally awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. This was cancelled when his award was upgraded to the Victoria Cross. Unfortunately, the advice of the D.C.M. was sent to his father in Australia and additionally, the D.C.M. was promulgated after the V.C. was announced and later it was cancelled in the London Gazette of 20th October 1916. Unfortunately a letter dated 4 January 1917 from Base Records Office, A.I.F. to Jackson's father states, "I have much pleasure in forwarding herwith copy of extract from First Supplement No. 29760 to the London Gazette of 22nd September, 1916, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your son, No. 588, Private W.Jackson, 17th Battalion. Awarded The Distinguished Conduct Medal. 'His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to the undermentioned soldier for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty in the field:- No. 588, Private William Jackson, For conspicuous gallantry. After a successful raid he escorted back a prisoner and immediately returned to 'No Man's Land' under heavy fire, and assisted in bringing in a wounded man. On going out again his arm was blown off by a shell while he was bringing in a second wounded man, but even after this he continued to assist in the rescue of other wounded. His work as a scout has always been marked by the greatest pluck.' The above has been promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.184, of 14th December, 1916." The cancellation of the award in favour of the Victoria Cross appeared in Military Order No. 288/60/1917. Base Records wrote to Mr Jackson senior on 14 April 1919 advising that the award of the D.C.M. had been overidden by the V.C. and asked him to return the notification dated 4 January 1917 however he replied that his son had it and he did not know where to contact him as he had moved. As nobody told Jackson of the cancellation he wore the D.C.M. right up until at least 1942 and he is recorded in numerous newspaper articles and even in Who's Who as a recipient of the V.C. and also the D.C.M. Confusion about his actual award entitlement even prompted the Australian War Memorial to write to Central Army Records Office in October 1964 requesting clarification as to whether he had been awarded the D.C.M. and M.M. as well as the V.C. It was also reported in the Sabretache Journal of the Military Historical Society of Australia Vol XLV No. 2 June 2004 that on 11 November 2001 a plaque in honour of Jackson was unveiled in Balmain which attributes him with V.C., D.C.M., M.M. As already stated above, in item 11, the official Royal document awarding him the Coronation Medal records his awards as V.C., M.M. Apparently the whole issue of the D.C.M came to a head while Jackson was serving in WWII and he was asked to stop wearing the D.C.M. and return it to the Army. This did not sit well with him and on 30th January 1942 he wrote to Base Records in Canberra. In part the letter sent from his posting at Military Police Depot, Surry Hills, states, "I have no knowledge of any letter having been forwarded to my father, dated 14.4.1919, asking him to return the notification sent to him concerning the award of the D.C.M. nor have I any knowledge of any such decoration having been cancelled. The award was made in early 1916 (June). I have the official gazette of same and also the medal itself. I have my old pay book in which it is entered, together with other decorations. Further, it is entered on my old discharge. I have been paid for it. Still, it took some Department from early 1916 till April 1919 before it wrote my father, informimg him of cancelleation of the decoration. I have worn all my medals, including the D.C.M. on many occasions since 1916 until now, and this is the first time the right to wear any of my decorations has ever been challenged. If your statement is correct, it appears as if some person or persons have 'slipped' and 'slipped' badly. I am a soldier at the present time at the above address. I will not discontinue wearing any of my ribbons, which number six. I would much prefer to apply for my discharge and have the whole matter settled in Court. As a matter of fact, I have it in the hands of my solicitor already." It seems that the matter was resolved in a fashion because Jackson re-enlisted three weeks after discharging and a letter from Base Records on 9th January 1943 advised that Jackson might surrender the decoration if the facts were explained to him however "if he is not so inclined" then it was not considered desirable to order him to do so. The Victoria Cross is the most prized and respected of all Imperial decorations. This lot presents a chance to acquire one of the few remaining V.C.s to an Australian still in private hands. Even rarer and in fact unique is this offering of a V.C. to the youngest ever Australian to be so recognised. Accompanied by research papers confirming all of the aforementioned facts.