W Woolmore Collection - Australian Groups

Lot 3567    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 21ST NOV)    W Woolmore Collection - Australian Groups

Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,500

GROUP OF FIVE: Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, (type 3 reverse), - four clasps - Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen; King's South Africa Medal 1902, - two clasps - South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 3122 Pte A.F.Jordan. Cape M.R. on first medal, 3122 Corpl A.F.Jordan. Cape M.R. on second medal, 38 Pte. A.F.Jordan. 6/L.H.Rgt. A.I.F. on third medal, Captain A.F.Jordan A.I.F. on last two medals. All medals impressed. Display mounted, contact marks on first two medals, otherwise fine - very fine.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 55 (lot 506) the Ted Millett Collection.

Alfred Frederick Jordan, born in 1875 near London in County of Surrey, UK; at age 20 served in South Africa (1895-6) with Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles, a local colonial unit; 1896-7 employed guarding convicts on Robben Island, off the coast near Cape Town; Boer War served in Cape Mounted Rifles (1899-1902); 1910 transferred to Cycle and Motor Corps where he served until Oct1912, then to Australia and worked as commercial traveller in Sydney; Enl.15Sep1914 at Sydney, NSW in 6LHR A Sqn; to Sqn Sgt Maj 01Oct1914; to acting RSM 19Nov1914; Emb.21Dec1914; to Gallipoli and commissioned Lieutenant 28Aug1915; to Anzac Provost Corps 15Sep1916 and promoted to Captain and then appointed OC Anzac Provost Corps in Cairo and Deputy Provost Marshall, Egypt; due to a discrepancy over pay accounts in the Provost Corps Jordan was relieved of his command by Lt-Gen Harry Chauvel, GOC AIF Egypt, and command reverted to Major Bisdee VC and Jordan was attached to Australian Infantry Camp; RTA 23Mar1918; Died 12Jun1957 and was cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium, Qld.

During his Boer War service with the Cape Mounted Rifles (CMR), Jordan fought at the Siege of Wepener in Orange Free State enduring the toughest part of the fighting with CMR losing 12 killed and 75 wounded. They held out at Wepener for 16 days and nights with nothing but cold food and for 3 days their trenches were flooded by rain. The siege ended on 24 April 1900.

Jordan also served with the CMR during the action at Brandwater Basin, Wittebergen, that resulted in the capture of Prinsloo's Commando but unfortunately De Wet escaped. He then continued with his service in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal through to the end of the war.

In WWI while OC of the Anzac Provost Corps, the Chief Pay Office on 30 April 1917 drew attention to the fact that Captain Jordan and other officers in the Provost Corps were overdrawn on their pay accounts and Jordan was asked to explain and also to repay about $163 in his own case. In a report dated 3 January 1918 prepared by Lt-Col D.Fulton, Commandant, Australian Headquarters, Egypt it was stated that there were more convictions against members of the Provost Corps than against any other unit on a proportional basis. He concluded that the CO, Captain Jordan, had not insisted on a sufficiently high standard of conduct and discipline from the members of the Corps. Subsequently he was relieved of his command.

Captain Jordan was also involved in another scandal when the British Consul to the AIF in Cairo reported that a Roumanian lady named Miss Felman claimed to be engaged to Captain Jordan of the Anzac Provost Corps. The Consul, Mr Alba, claimed that Captain Jordan had solemnly promised to marry the lady and was bound to honour his promise. He allegedly had her with child which had been prematurely born and subsequently died. The birth took place unexpectedly at Miss Felman's father's house and she had to admit that Captain Jordan was the father. He was sent for, accepted responsibility, and promised to marry Miss Felman. AIF HQ Cairo tried hard to bring about the marriage and Miss Felman threatened court action but somehow Jordan made it back to Australia, still a single man, although somewhat disgraced.

With a large volume of research including AIF Service File.