Australian Groups

Lot 2308    Session 8 (2.30pm Wednesday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $12,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF NINE: Military Cross (GVIR); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; British War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Tobruk Siege Medal 1941; Battle of Britain Medal 1939-45 - bar - Australia; Front Line Service Medal. 1941 on MC, SX1166 M.R.Ellenby on second to sixth medals, M.Ellenby SX1166 on seventh medal, SX1166 Ellenby M.R. 2/10th Inf Bn on last medal. First and last medals engraved, second to sixth medals impressed, seventh medal pantographed and eighth medal unnamed. Court mounted in two groups. Very fine.

Lt Malcolm Richard Ellenby, 2/10 Bn 2nd A.I.F., Enl.03Nov1939 Dis.06Apr1942 MC. L.G.: 30Dec1942 'This Officer has shown continuous gallantry in action in the Field during the period of this unit's service in the Tobruk area. Joining the battalion from hospital on 23May41 Lieut Ellenby quickly established himself as a gallant leader of men and soon had superiority over the enemy in No-Mans-Land in the Porbes Mound area. By constant patrolling he gained much useful information abouth the enemy's dispositions. He was untiring in his efforts and again and again led nightly patrols in this and in this Pilastrino Sector, deloused enemy minefields and organised and led strong fighting patrols against enemy occupied sangers. On the night of 19/20 July at Bir el Carmusa during one of these attacks he was seriously wounded and although unable to walk personally directed the completion of the patrol's task and its successful withdrawal. His very able leadership, courage and gallantry at all times has been magnificent and he has set a fine example to his men.' 'Lieut Ellenby was in Tobruk with the famous 'Rats'. Three thousand yards from their lines which had proved highly troublesome to patrols. It needed to be cleared ourt and so, following a reconnaisance, Ellenby, with a patrol of 30 men, went forward the following midnight with the object of destroying the post. The patrol stole within 30 or 40 yards of the enemy post without being spotted and then crawled bang into some wirenetting which hadn't been there the night before. 'Being good soldiers' says Ellenby 'my men immediately went to ground. But I found a gap in the wirenetting about 2ft wide, so I went through on my own. As I went towards the post the enemy opened up with machine-guns and a nice cross fire with mortars. I chucked hand grenades as I went ahead, and I suppose some of them must have registered. Then I was hit in both legs and the head and I went to ground. Those wounds made me feel that I had ahad enough, and I didn't care much what happened. However, as I lay wounded my tommy-gunner crawled up alongside and he was able to get my whistle and sound the pre-arranged withdrawal signal. After he had blown the withdraw signal, I told the tommy-gunner to clear out. I felt I was incapable of moving. But he refused to leave me, and as, by this time, the enemy post had been silenced, he started to help me back. It took us some time to reach the barbed wire, and I didn't expect to find any of the chaps there, but apparently Pte Fallon, of Port Lincoln, spotted us crawling in and stayed behind. The next thing was to get back to headquarters, 3,000 yards away. Pte Fallon carried me, as I couldn't use my legs, with the intention of getting me to a carrier 800 yards away, which we had taken up for removing any wounded. But in the darkness with only the stars to guide him, Fallon lost his direction and missed the carrier. The result was he had to carry me the whole 3,000 yards. It took him two and a half hours. So severe were Lieut Ellenby's wounds that he was invalided out of the Army.' Together with Commission in Permanent Military Forces, Studio portrait in uniform, photographs on service and whilst convalescing, medical documents, newspaper clippings, official Army Statement of Service, copy of Army form W3121 - for award for MC, two service ties and 'Rats of Tobruk' souvenir spoons. Two MCs issued to a member of 2/10th Battalion for the Tobruk action.