Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4069    SESSION 19 (2.30PM FRIDAY 28TH JULY)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $1,100
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $900

GROUP OF FIVE TO POW: 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. VX30846 W.E.Smith. All medals impressed. Some contact marks and spotty toning on last three medals, otherwise very fine - extremely fine.

Note: On 1 September 1962 William Smith lodged a Statutory Declaration stating that his R.A.S. Badge and his campaign medals had been lost. The declaration is marked to state that the R.A.S. Badge was replaced on 1 September 1962 but there is no indication on the declaration or in his file that the medals were replaced so perhaps he located his originally issued medals.

William Edward Smith, motor mechanic, age 26, born at Melbourne, Vic; Enl.07Jun1940 at Royal Park, Vic; tfr to Infy Trg Depot No.3 13Jun1940; posted to 2/21 Bn 17Jul1940; detached to Driver Mechanic's Course 26Aug1940; rejoined unit 30Aug1940; graded Group III Driver Mechanic 04Mar1941; Emb.13Dec1941; MIA 02Feb1942 at Ambon, NEI; now reported as POW 17Feb1942 at Ambon, NEI; RTA and Disemb.16Oct1945; Disch.03Dec1945 as Private ex 2/21 Aust Infy Bn.

With copy of Service File and a b&w photo showing a group of POWs including W.E.Smith in the process of being evacuated by train from Bakli Bay, Hainan Island to Sama Bay on about 28 August 1945 after being liberated by a detachment of the US Office of Strategic Services following the surrender of Japan.