Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 2420    SESSION 14 (2.30PM THURSDAY 28TH NOVEMBER)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

TRIO: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. S.Lt. B.H.Buck. R.N.R. All medals impressed. Swing mounted, oxidation spots on first and last medals, otherwise very fine.

Bertie Henry Buck, born 22May1883 at Point Marsden on Kangaroo Island, Sth Aust in 1883. He served as a Sub Lieutenant with Royal Naval Reserve aboard the Sea Plane Carrier H.M.S. Anne, which was a converted captured German freighter Aene Rickmers. It carried out observation duties with her two aircraft in the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea during 1915 - 17 in support of Allied operations in Syria, Palestine and the Sinai Peninsula. In addition to reconnaissance duties, the ship delivered and recovered Allied agents as well as observed for ships performing coastal bombardments and also sent her planes on reconnaissance missions to areas of Palestine, in support of Allied movements, including Beersheba and supported the Arab Revolt led by Lawrence of Arabia in 1917.
He married in England on 20Aug1919 and after returning to South Australia he became one of the best known seamen in South Australian waters where he spent more than 47 years on sea duties. He was with the Adelaide Steamship Company for 30 years, 23 of which he served as master. His first command was the Kapara, which he took over in February, 1925. Since then he was in command of the Quorna, Nalpa, Mulcra, Noora, Coroma, Lameroo, Broadway, Moonta and Minnipa. He retired from the company's service in October, 1949, but occasionally returned to duty in an emergency. For the four months preceding his death, he had been serving with Captain R. A. Moore as watchman on the damaged freighter Arkaba, anchored in Boston Bay. Bertie Henry Buck died 01Aug1952 at South Australia. His remains were taken to Port Adelaide by the Moonta and his funeral was held at the Cheltenham Cemetery.
Bertie's brother, Arthur Hart Buck, served with 10 Aust Infy Bn and was KIA at Belgium on 8 October 1917.
With research.