W Woolmore Collection - Australian Groups

Lot 3576    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 21ST NOV)    W Woolmore Collection - Australian Groups

Estimate $3,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,000

PAIR: Imperial Service Medal, (GVR); Royal Humane Society of Australasia Bronze Medal. George William Ward on first medal, George William Ward 1st Jany 1901 on second medal. Both medals engraved. Display mounted in reverse order and in a small storage wallet, original ribbon on ISM damaged, otherwise fine - good very fine.

Ex Les Williams Military Antiques, 30 April 1988.

ISM: 29/4/1921 to ex-Inspector George William Ward, Tasmania Police.

Received medal along with other recipients at ISM presentation made on Thursday 23 March by His Excellency the Administrator (Sir Herbert Nichols), who was accompanied by the Attorney-General and the Commissioner of Police at a ceremony in Franklin Square in the presence of a large attendance of the general public and a full parade of police officers.

RHS citation: George William Ward, Water-Police Station, Hobart, Tasmania, sergeant, aged 37 years, who rescued Mary Ann Leary, Hobart, a domestic servant, aged 30 years, from drowning at the wharf on 1st January, 1901. As the S.S. Oonah was approaching the wharf, Mary Ann Leary fell between the steamer and the wharf, and though the steamer was closing in Constable Ward jumped after her and brought her to shore.

George William Ward; appt'd Constable 07Nov1892; to First-class Constable 02Jun1899; to Sergeant 11Sep1900 and given charge of the Wharf Station; trf to Glenorchy in Sep1915; appt'd gaoler at Glenorchy 09Feb1916; to Sub-Inspector 21Jun1917 and trf to Launceston; to Inspector 18Dec1919; resigned due to ill health 31May1920; once commended for special diligence, twice commended and twice awarded from Police Reward Fund for meritorious conduct during police service. These commendations related to his actions in capturing escaped prisoners. He was also involved in the breaking up of ruffians who congregated in the upper part of Liverpool Street, Hobart in his earlier days in the force.

George William Ward, late Inspector of Police, died on 2 December 1932 at his residence at Battery Point. The following news was reported in The Mercury, Hobart, on Monday 5 December 1932, p6.

'The funeral of the late Mr. George William Ward, a former inspector of police, whose death occurred last Friday, took place at Cornelian Bay Cemetery yesterday. When the cortege arrived at the Intersection of the Main Head and Risdon Road it was met by a squad of police in uniform, who preceded the hearse, in the charge of Sergeant J. Cooper, of Sandy Bay.

The chief mourners were Mr. Douglas Ward (son) and Messrs. C. and J. Ward (brothers). The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev C. C. Short, rector of St. George's Church, Battery Point.

The pall-bearers were Sergeants Nolan, Perkins, Barker, and Giani, and among the police officers in attendance were the Metropolitan Superintendent of Police (Mr. W. C. Oakes), who represented the Commissioner of Police (Colonel J. E. C. Lord), Inspector Bush, Sergeants Padman, Challenger, and Wright, Plainclothes-Senior Constable H. Whittle (representing the detective branch), ex-Superintendent Conlan, Lonergan, Browne, and Weston, and ex-Inspector Harris. Among others present were Sir John Evans, M.H.A., Messrs Dwyer-Gray and E. J. Ogilvie, Ms.H.A., Alderman S. Crisp, and Messrs. E. A. Reid, H. Rowe, N. Kemp, L. Lewis, A.Fulton, C. Lansdell, and T. Simpson. There were many floral tributes.'

With copy of purchase docket and RHS citation.