Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4887    SESSION 18 (2.30PM FRIDAY 29TH JULY)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $6,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $7,500

GROUP OF EIGHT TO HEROIC AND RESPECTED POLICE OFFICER: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM); Queen's Police Medal (QPM); Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Jubilee Medal 1977; Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (QEII type 1); Royal Shipwreck Relief Humane Society of N.S.W. Bronze Medal. Russell Nelson Crook on first medal, Russell N.Crook, Insp. Class 1. N.S.Wales Police. on second medal, NX83455 R.N.Crook on third to fifth medals, sixth medal unnamed as issued, Russell N.Crook on seventh medal, Constable R.N.Crook Saving Life 10.10.1946 on last medal. First medal pantographed, second to fifth and seventh medals impressed, last medal engraved. Display mounted, contact marks on a few medals, otherwise very fine.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 122 (lot 3707).

OAM: 9/6/1980 in recognition of service to the community and ex-service personnel.

QPM: 2/6/1973 citation states New South Wales Police.
Recommendation by F.J.Hanson, Commissioner of Police: Commended for his efforts as a member of the Police Anti-Hijacking Committee in evolving procedures to combat aircraft hijacking and for his contribution to the successful staging of a simulated hijacking exercise at Kingsford Smith Airport on the 19th March 1973.

Jubilee Medal: award to Russell Nelson Crook QPM of Frenchs Forest confirmed.

Police LS&GCM: 21/5/1959.
Recommendation 31Mar1958: Commended for excellent manner in which, as Police Prosecutor, he presented the facts at the hearing of the Inquest into the death of Alfred Bamblett at Griffith on the 3rd November, 1957. At the conclusion of the Inquest the District Coroner passed complimentary remarks regarding the assistance rendered by the Sergeant.

RSR&HSM: awarded bronze medal and Certificate of Merit for rescue of J.M.Leahey from Sydney Harbour on 10Oct1946. Also commended for good work and devotion to duty during disastrous floods in New South Wales during February-March 1935.

Citation: Constable First/C Russell Nelson Crook, NSW Police, on the 10th October, 1946 saved a man from being drowned in the waters of Port Jackson. The Constable was a passenger in the Manly Ferry Steamer "Barrenjoey" proceeding from Circular Quay to Manly, when the alarm "man overboard" was raised. Constable Crook, on discovering the man's whereabouts in the water, dived overboard and swam to his assistance. Meanwhile the ferry's engines had been reversed, and a launch from Garden Island appeared on the scene and picked up the Constable and the man he was supporting. The prompt action of Constable Crook has been recognised by the Society by the award of the Bronze Medal and Certificate of Merit.

Russell Nelson Crook, born 21Oct1916 at Artarmon, Sydney, NSW; joined NSW Police as trainee Metropolitan District Depot No.1 06Jan1936 (Probationary Constable); General & School Lecturer 16Mar1936; Ordinary Constable 06Jan1937; resigned 15Jan1942 after enlisting in AIF; Enl.12Jan1942 at Paddington, Sydney, NSW 261545 (NX83455); Appt Lt in 2/5 Aust Commando Sqn 03Jun1943 and served with unit until Jan1945; Trf to ANGAU and served in New Britain; Disch.11Jan1946 as Lt ex HQ Angau; resumed police duty 31Jan1946 (Constable 1st Class) General Duties No. 1 Depot; Court Staff with C.I.Branch 20Mar1946; Police Prosecuter with C.I.Branch 13Mar1950; Senior Constable 01Mar1951; Training purposes with Traffic Office & Traffic Court (Temp) 10Dec1951; Police Prosecuter with C.I.Branch 16Jun1952; Sergeant 3rd Class 09Apr1954; Sergeant 2nd Class 25Feb1961; Sergeant 1st Class 04Feb1965; Police Prosecuter with Prosecuting Branch 02Aug1965; Inspector 3rd Class 20Jul1967; Asst Officer No.14 Station 07Sep1967; Special Investigation No.20 (HQs) 17Oct1968; Asst Officer No.14 Station 29Sep1969; Inspector 2nd Class 12Oct1969; OIC No.25 Station 04Jan1971; Inspector 1st Class 05Sep1971; Asst Officer No.20 Station (2Sub-Dist) 19Jan1972; Asst Officer No.20 (3 Sub-Dist) 22May1972.

Russell Crook was heavily involved with all aspects of the RSL movement and in particular with Paddington-Woollahra RSL. He died on 20Jun1986. A Police service was conducted at St Francis Church, Paddington and a valediction was read by Acting Police Commissioner W.Ross QPM, APM and later at the crematorium an eulogy was given by Sir Colin Hines OBE, State President of the RSL of NSW.

With research.