Aust. Historical Medals

Lot 740    Session 3 (2.30pm Tuesday 24th March)    Aust. Historical Medals

Estimate $350
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,300

BOER WAR TRIBUTE MEDAL, 1901, in 15ct gold (8.6g; 29mm), with loop suspender, voided design of central shield bearing inscribed monogram initials, 'EAP', and in the band around is inscribed, 'South African War/1900-1', on the reverse of the shield is inscribed, 'By His/Burrowa/ Friends/17 May 1901', and in the band around is inscribed, 'Presented To Trooper E.A.Prior'. Very fine.

Ernest Arthur Prior, age 22, born at Wilcannia, NSW; Enl.26Dec1899 as Trooper in 1 Aust Horse; Disch.06May1901 at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, NSW.

Together with,

1. Certificate of Discharge, 6 May 1901, from South African Contingent.

2. Public Service Board, 4 May 1910, Certificate of Qualification for office of Police Magistrate.

3. Department of the Attorney General and of Justice, 6 July 1910, memo forwarding Certificate of Qualification for Police Magistrate.

4. Appointment to Lieutenant effective 1 July 1916, by Governor General Sir Ronald Cranford Munro Ferguson, dated 10 March 1920.

5. Government House 3 May 1935, Congratulations on Award of King's Silver Jubilee Medal, signed by A. Hore Ruthven, Governor.

6. Circular from Premier's Department, 10 May 1935 re King's Silver Jubilee Medal.

7. Premier's Office 22 July 1937, forwarding with his Congratulations, the Kings Coronation Medal awarded on Coronation Day, 12 May 1937, signed B.S. Stevens, Premier.

8. Mounted photo of E.A. Prior.

9. Circular from Premier's Department, 10 May 1935 re King's Silver Jubilee Medal.

0. Convict notes, five pages, see also back of first page of notes.

Also, newspaper cuttings as well as photocopy of newspaper photo of Mr E.A. Prior and a copy of letter from Clarrie Martin, Attorney General, NSW to Mr J. Harvey Prior, Barrister-at-Law, dated September 19, 1947, and including a typed transcript of notes (7 foolscap pages) taken at the Industrial Commission on Monday 15 September 1947, the meeting being held upon the occasion of the death of Mr. E.A. Prior, late Chief Industrial Magistrate (held this position from 1928 - 1947). Tributes to Mr J. Harvey Prior were made by the Attorney General the Hon C.E. Martin M.L.A., Mr Kenny, President of the Trades & Labour Council, Mr Woodcock of the Employer's Federation, Messrs Landon and Bryant, Industrial Advocates, Mr Bellemore, Under Secretary, Department of Labour and Industry, Mr Coote of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union, and others.

Part of Mr C.E. Martin's tribute reads, 'Like so many other distinguished public servants he had very humble origins - his first appointment to the Service was in January 1891 as letter-carrier and telegraph probationer, from which very humble post he rose to the very distinguished office that he held at his death. He joined the Petty Sessions Branch of the Department of the Attorney General and of Justice as a junior clerk in August 1899. His first appointment as Police Magistrate was at Nyngan from January 1922. He later served at Mudgee and Wollongong and, on the 1st March 1928, was appointed Chief Industrial Magistrate, when began that long career in that jurisdiction which will cause his name to be remembered for many years to come.

Another interesting phase of his life that I would take the liberty of mentioning is that the late Mr. Prior was largely, very largely, instrumental in having the Rules of the Supreme Court amended to permit Petty Sessions officers, after a period of service as such, to sit for the Solicitors' Examinations, and he was the first solicitor to be admitted under the amended Rules. It is also relevant to remember that we say farewell today to a South African veteran. On 31st December 1899 Mr Prior was granted leave without pay to proceed to South Africa on military duties, and returned from his war service there on 4th May 1901.'

See also lots 2470 and 2471.