Australian Groups

Lot 3826       Australian Groups

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

AUSTRALIA GROUP OF SIX: Distinguished Service Cross (GVIR) 1945; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; British War Medal 1939-45 (M.I.D.); Australia Service Medal; Reserve Decoration - 1944. B. Paul RANR(S) Fourth and fifth only named, impressed. First and last in cases of issue. Others mounted for wear. Very fine.

Together with: recipient's autobiography; official citation for award of D.S.C.; Commission in the R.A.N.R.(S); R.A.N.R. Officer's Training Certificate Book; 12 Commanding Officer's Certificates relating to his peace and war-time R.A.N.R. Service; R.A.N.R. Demobilisation Certificate; recipient's Baptismal Certificate; references supporting his entry into the BISNC and OSNC. Indenture Certificate as BISNC cadet; 21 certificates of recommendation from captains of various merchant ships; Company of Master Mariners of Australia Membership Certificate; Marine Board of Victoria Pilotage Exemption Certificate; various correspondence relating to his pilot service; two newspaper clippings relating to his career; photograph of recipient as a BISNC cadet; photograph of recipient as R.A.N.R.(S) officer; photograph album relating to recipient and his war service; eight photographs of R.A.N. ships and auxilliary craft (including KRAIT); recipient's binoculars, parallel ruler and dividers; HMAS WANGANELLA menu card; small amount of various denominations of Japanese occupation currency; and copy of 'KRAIT' souvenir booklet. Basil Paul was born at Dulwich London on 8 June 1904, with his family moving later to Norwich where he was educated. He entered the service of the British India Steam Navigation Company at the age of 16 as an indentured apprentice and continued with the Company for eleven years and attaining the rank of Second Officer, before joining the Orient Steam Navigation Company in July 1933 as a Fourth Officer. Having visited Australia many times in the course of his career he joined James Patrick and Company, shipowners of Sydney on 14 July 1934 and remained with that Company until he was mobilised in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea going) in August 1939.(He had joined the R.A.N.R.(S) in 1934.) He joined HMAS CANBERRA as a Lieutenant and served in her for eighteen months. Following promotion to Lieutenant Commander he assumed command of H.M.A.S. GOULBURN in 1941 a position he held for eighteen months before a posting as Staff Officer Independent Commando, in H.M.A.S. MORETON followed on 1 October 1942, during which he was involved with H.M.A.S. KRAIT and the planning for operation 'Jaywick'. He took command of H.M.A.S. CASTLEMAINE in 1943 until in June 1944 he joined H.M.A.S. MANOORA (a Landing Ship, Infantry) as Executive Officer, where he took part in the numerous assaults and landings in the South West Pacific area. His service was recognised with the award of the Distinguished Service Cross and a mention in dispatches. He also received the Volunteer Reserve Decoration at this time. In June 1945 he was again posted to a staff apointment in Sydney were he remained until a few months after the end of the war. With promotion to Commander, he assumed command of a minesweeping flotilla which operated on the Australian Coast and in the Pacific Islands. He was eventually demobilised in September 1946. He returned to civilian life and resumed his mercantile marine career, commanding several merchant ships before entering the Port Phillip Pilot Service in December 1947, where he remained for 22 years until his retirement in September 1969.