Australian Groups

Lot 5736    Session 18 (2.30pm Friday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $20,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $14,250

GROUP OF EIGHT: Distinguished Conduct Medal (GVR type 1); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19 with MID; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. 176 Sig:Sjt: W.D.Archibald. 7/Aust: L.H.R. on first medal, 176 Pte W.D.Archibald 7/L.H.Rgt. A.I.F. on second medal, 176 Sjt. W.D.Archibald 7/L.H.Rgt. A.I.F. on third and fourth (7 L.H.Regt) medals, W.D.Archibald M.N. Master. on fifth - eighth medals. Impressed. Very fine - extremely fine.

DCM: LG 14/11/1916 p.11105 posn 1, CAG 19/4/1917 p.922 posn 26. Citation: 'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He maintained communications under very heavy fire, displaying great courage and determination.' Recommendation: 'At Romani and Qatia on 4/5th August, 1916. Was responsible for maintaining excellent communications within the Regiment, during the whole of the operations. When not actually working at signalling took his place in the firing line. He was most cool and collected throughout.' MID: LG 1/12/1916 p.11807 posn 40, CAG 19/4/1917 p.926 posn 48. Mentioned for 'distinguished service rendered' during the period of General A.J.Murray's Command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces Sergeant William Daniel Archibald, born in New Zealand and a committed merchant mariner, William Archibald tried to join the Navy after war broke out in 1914, however they did not want him. Not to be deterred, he enlisted in the Australian Army joining up at Rosehill in Sydney on 13 October 1914. Interestingly, he put his occupation down as bushman. He went to training camp at Holsworthy on 17 December 1914 and oddly enough for a seaman he ended up in the Australian Light Horse.On 20 December 1914 he embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Ayrshire then joining the MEF on Gallipoli on 15 May 1915. He was wounded in action at Anzac on 30 July 1915. He was awarded the DCM on 23 September 1916 for his actions at Romani and Qatia on 4/5 August 1916 and Mentioned in Despatches on 13 October 1916. At war's end he enbarked for Australia on 15 November 1918 and was discharged on 24 February 1919. He then looked at resuming his seagoing career but found that steam had replaced sail. Eventually he adjusted to this change and then proceeded to master the new technology. During this period, he must have mislaid his medals because he put a request to the Government for a replacement of his lost medals (see the next lot). During WWII he once again served but in the Merchant Navy. By this time he was a Master of his ship. Following the war he continued his career. He was in the service of H.C.Sleigh, the petroleum company (Golden Fleece) and given command of the company's giant 27,500 ton super tanker, s.t. 'Hamilton Sleigh'. Captain Archibald was Commodore of the Sleigh fleet when he died on 14 July 1962. Together with a pair of composition fibre dog tags, one round, one octagonal, still on original leather neck cord; 7LH hat badge (35mm) in copper, lugs removed and clutch grip fitted; Returned from Active Service badge (AIF) impressed on reverse, No.51774; RSL membership badge (early two figure type) with overlaid year '37' on crown; book, 'The 7th Light Horse Regiment 1914-1919 the history of the 7th Light Horse Regiment A.I.F.' by Lieut-Colonel J.D.Richardson, DSO, a subscription issue limited to 300 copies of which this is No.188, signed inside front and back cover by W.D.Archibald; Tribute Certificate to Signaller Sergeant W.D.Archibald D.C.M from 7th Regiment A.L.H. A.I.F. Association, framed under glass (640mm x 540mm) colourful document featuring a centre panel containing the poem, with verses in parody, of 'Madamoiselle from Arminteres' and at the sides and below are the signatures of 126 ALH Association members present on the occasion; page 3 of H.C.Sleigh (Golden Fleece petroleum) Staff News, c.late 1962, obituary tribute. With research in hard copy and also with a CD of same. Included with this is a complete analysis of the 126 signatories to the Tribute Certificate showing (a) those awarded decorations and awards with indication if WIA [15 names], (b) those mentioned in parody verses in the poem with indication if WIA [4 names], Wounded in action not already mentioned in (a) and (b) [24 names].