Australian Groups

Lot 4255    SESSION 13 (2.30pm Thursday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $25,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $34,000

GROUP OF SIXTEEN: Medal of the Order of Australia (General Division); British Empire Medal (Military); Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 - two bars - Korea, Vietnam; Korea Medal 1950-53 (first obverse); United Nations Korea Medal 1950-53; Campaign Service Medal 1962 - one bar - South Vietnam; Vietnam Medal 1964-73; Australian Service Medal 1945-75 - two bars - Korea, PNG; Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977; Defence Force Service Medal with first clasp; National Medal with first clasp; Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Australia bar; Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal (EIIR); Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star; South Vietnam Campaign Medal - bar - 1960-; Australian Defence Medal 2006. James Husband on first medal; 26275 James Husband, R. Aust. Sigs. on second medal; 26275 J. Husband on third, sixth, seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and sixteenth medals; 2/6275 J. Husband on fourth (impressed as HU SB A ND) and fifth medals; 26275 J. Husband BEM on thirteenth medal; and J. Husband on fifteenth medal. First, third, eighth and sixteenth medals pantographed, others of the second to thirteenth medals impressed, and fifteenth medal engraved. Court mounted, the last medal has not been mounted in the group as it was only issued in 2007. Extremely fine.

James Husband joined Regular Army 3 June 1952; posted to 2RAR in training for deployment to Korea; served in Korea in MMG Platoon as Regimental Signaller and at one time during battle of "The Hook" was the only link to the Section on Hill 111 which was crucial to the outcome of the battle; after war medically evacuated to Kure, Japan; posted to Britcom Base Signals Regiment as a Despatch Rider; transferred to RASigs and promoted Lance Corporal; 1954/55 promoted to Corporal and posted to British Commonwealth Battle School at Haramura, Japan as an Assistant Instructor, Regimental Signals; late 1955 posted to 19 National Service Battalion as an instructor; completed a course at Army PT School at North Head and another 6-month course at RAN School of Physical Training at HMAS Cerebus; posted to 1 Recruit Training Battalion at Kapooka and promoted Sergeant; 1957 posted to Army Apprentices School at Balcombe; awarded British Empire Medal for his outstanding contribution on the character development of young apprentices (full 4-paragraph citation included); transferred to Infantry Corps and attended AATTV selection course; promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2; posted to Team in 1964 as Assistant Advisor at the Dong Da National Training Centre near Hue in ARVN 1st Corps area; posting as Assistant Battalion Advisor with 2nd Battalion 5th ARVN Infantry Battalion in the ARVN Corps area; involved in numerous combat operations and awarded ARVN Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star; 1965 returned to Australia and posted as CSM to 2 Commando Coy and qualified for Green Beret; seconded to Victorian Water Police Search and Rescue Squad to join in underwater search for PM Harold Holt at Cheviot Beach near Portsea; while with commandos qualified as a Parachute Jump Instructor, PJI No 43, on Course 13/1967; member of RAAF Dominoes Parachute Display Team; 1968 selected for attachment to the British Royal Marine Commandos; returned to 2 Commando Coy; 1969, at request of CO 7RAR, posted as RSM of A Coy for deployment to Vietnam for his second operational tour 16/2/70 - 10/3/71; on return posted to Infantry Centre instructing on Warrant Officer Courses and promoted to Warrant Officer Class 1; February 1974 participated in 100,000th jump sortie at RAAF Base Williamtown; appointed first RSM of new Army Parachute Training School which was established in May 1974; an inaugural member of Red Berets Australian Army Parachute Display Team; career total of about 400 descents, mostly freefall; last posting was as RSM of 6RAR; 1977 awarded Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal; 30 June 1977 retired from Regular Army; served in Army Reserves until 9 November 1981; 1999 PTS named its new exclusive training drop zone at Naval Air Station Nowra, DZ Husband, in honour of its first RSM, WO1 Jim Husband; 1999 awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the welfare of veterans and their families through 7RAR Association; Secretary of 7RAR Association for eleven years as well as serving as Vice President and also honoured with Life Membership; Committee Member and shareholder of the Australian Vietnam Forces Welcome Home 1987 organisation; a member of the Vietnam Memorial National Memorial Committee. Together with: U.S.A. Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC); Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation; Infantry Combat Badge; Returned from Active Service Badge (QC) numbered A435586; PJI (QC) metal badge; PJI (QC) bullion badge with bar and clutch grips fitted on reverse to facilitate transfer between uniforms; Warrant Officer's (RSM) metal badge (QC); Warrant Officer's (RSM) bullion badge (QC); RAR hat badge (QC); AATTV patch; Red Berets Parachute Display Team patch; Republic of Korea War Service Medal (conferred by President of Republic of Korea but Australian Government has not approved it for wearing); Korean War Veterans Association Medal (Ambassador for Peace Medal); AATTV tribute medallion in case. Documents included:Army Certificate of Service showing medal entitlement; Warrant for appointment as Warrant Officer; U.S. Army presentation documents and citation for MUC to AATTV; Certificate of Achievement from Senior Advisor Second Infantry Division for distinguished service as Assistant Battalion Advisor 29 Sept 1964 to 5 April 1965, dated 5 April 1965, Danang; Certificates, Korean / English, for Ambassador of Peace Medal; Program Book for the bestowal of the Medal of the Order of Australia at Government House, Queensland, 9 April 1999; Text of Citation for award of BEM; bestowal certificate for Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal 1977; Citation with list of recipients for Gallantry Cross with Silver Star; Letter of Commendation from Office of Senior Advisor, Advisory Team 2; Letter from Victoria Police Search & Rescue Squad expressing thanks for assisting in underwater searching for PM Harold Holt; two of Their Service / Our Heritage Certificates, one for Korean War Service and the other for Vietnam War Service; Certificate of Appreciation from Head of CHOGM 2002 Task Force; Certificate of Appreciation from Queensland Government for CHOGM; Certificate of Recognition from RSL (Queensland Branch); 7RAR Memorial Church Service & Farwell Parade at Ap An Phu, South Vietnam Program 24/2/71 with WO2 Husband's name listed as RSM A Company; Share Certificate for shares in Australian Vietnam Forces Welcome Home '87 Pty Ltd; Australian Vietnam Forces National Reunion journal listing J. Husband as a Committee Member; Personal invitation from the Lord Mayor, Brisbane, to attend 50th Anniversary of RAR celebrations; letter of approval from the Department of Prime Minister for wearing Cross of Gallantry; 20 letters of congratulations on award of Order of Australia Medal including ones from Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, MAJGEN Peter Cosgrove AM, MC, MAJGEN P J Dunn AO, Sir William Keys AC, OBE, MC, and others from various senators, ministers, veterans organisations and other groups; photographs and newspaper clippings and a career precis, all housed in a large Order of Australia Investiture Ceremony binder. A rare opportunity to acquire a distinguished career soldier's complete portfolio of awards and memorabilia, including the rare Campaign Service Medal - bar South Vietnam to a member of AATTV, Australia's most highly decorated unit with four VCs to its credit as well as numerous other Imperial and foreign awards.