Australian Groups

Lot 5568    Session 18 (2.30pm Friday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $12,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF TWENTY TWO: Military Cross (GRI); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star - one clasp - 8th Army; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45 with MID; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 - clasps - Korea, Vietnam; Korea Medal 1950-53; UN Korea Medal; Vietnam Logistics and Support Medal 1993; Australian Service Medal 1945 - 1975; Australian General Service Medal Korea 2009; Reserve Force Decoration - three bars; National Medal - two bars; Australian Defence Medal; Army Emergency Reserve Decoration EIIR; South Vietnam Campaign Medal; BCOF Medal - clasp - Australia; Rats of Tobruk Association Medal; Korean War Medal; Korean War Veterans Medal. The first with 1943 on reverse of lower arm of cross; SX9461 O.H.Isaksson on second - seventh medals; 47505 C.H.Isaksson on eighth, twelfth - fifteenth and eighteenth medals; O.H.Isaksson 47505 on ninth, eleventh, sixteenth, seventeenth and nineteenth medals; O.H.Isaksson SX9461 on twentieth medal; tenth, twenty first and twenty second medals unnamed. The date on the first medal engraved, the second - seventh medals impressed, all other named medals engraved, these later style engraving. Court mounted, extremely fine.

The MID on the War Medal is erroneously attached. During WWII Lieutenant Isaksson was awarded a Commander-in-Chief's Card not a Mentioned in Despatches. Together with custom made soft, dark green leather folder, gold blocked naming and details of Brigadier Isaksson, this folder holding a large portfolio of documents of Isaksson's complete service history. Attached inside this folder cover is a matching set of twenty two miniature medals, court mounted and a full set of twenty two riband bars, also, WWII General Service badge (type 2), an Infantry Combat badge and a Returned from Active Service badge (WWII), all in gilt. MC: LG 11/2/1943 p743, posn 17. Citation: `Courage, leadership and untiring devotion Miteiriya Ridge on 25/26 Oct.42.' Recommendation for MC: `For courage, leadership and untiring devotion to duty in the employment of the Carrier Platoon in a series of Battalion attacks over a few days. On the night 25/26th October, 1942, on Miteiriya Ridge the Battalion exploited its right flank to capture an important enemy held position. Captain Isaksson was Officer Commanding Carrier Platoon. A rifle company was lifted by the Battalion carriers and had the task of rushing on to the important enemy held position immediately on the cessation of our artillery concentrations. Together with Rifle Company Commander, Capt. Isaksson led the advance forward in his carrier right on to the objective where the troops debussed and destroyed the enemy holding position. Capt. Isaksson showed great courage and capable leadership in the employment of the carriers and the boldness and accuracy of the carrier advance forward to the objective was a great factor in the capture of this important position. Capt. Isaksson then reorganized his carriers and maintained a ferry service of Battalion stores, ammunition, etc. to enable the Battalion to be completely reorganized by dawn and ready for enemy counter-attack. Throughout the operation the enemy fought stubbornly, but Capt. Isaksson maintained a steady and determined service until his task was completed. In three Battalion attacks during those few days in the face of intense enemy action Capt. Isaksson displayed an untiring devotion to duty, a high standard of personal courage and leadership with his carriers in assisting in the rapid reorganization of the Battalion after the capture of its objective.' Army record shows: Lt 2/48 Bn 1/11/41 AIF list 53 - Awarded Commander-in-Chief's Card for Gallantry in Action at Tobruk. Olaf Hedley Isaksson, born 29Jun1917, Exeter, South Australia, Salesman, previous service, 3 years 18LH MG Regt 1935-38; Enl.22Jul1940 2/48 Bn, 2 AIF; 29Aug1940 to Potential Officers Course, Randwick; 30Aug1940 promoted A/Sergeant; 22Oct1940 to 2/48 Bn as Lieutenant; service in Middle East earned him a Commander-in-Chief's Card for gallantry at Tobruk and the Military Cross for courage and leadership in El Alamein operations; 3Aug1943 - 20Feb1944 New Guinea - Morotai, Finschhafen; 18Jun1946 - 19Aug1946 detachment to 2 Aust War Cinema Section, Tokyo; 09Jan1947 to HQ BCOF; 11Feb1947 seconded for Special duty in connection with re-organisation of BCOF Central Army Training School; 09Jan1948 appointed GSO2 (AMF) Military Government Liaison Secretary HQ, BCOF; 07Feb1949 - 09Dec1949 Aust Staff College Course; 16Nov1949 appointed Instructor (Major) School of Tactics & Administration; 04Sep1950 42 week GSO Course at Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, USA; 19-30May1958 Nuclear Weapons Course at School of Artillery; 15Dec1960 - 17Jan1964 Commandant Jungle Training Centre; 20Jan1964 Director Military Intelligence; 15Nov1965 seconded to Dept of Defence for duty as Army Representative Joint Services Planning Group; 16Jan1969 seconded to Dept of Defence for duty as Director Joint Service Intelligence Brig Isaksson's record of service in the Australian Army from 22 July 1940 to 5 November 1971 is as follows: 2 AIF (SX9461) 22Jul1940 - 30Jun1947; Interim Army (SX9461) 01Jul1947 - 14Aug1952; ARA (4/7505) 15Aug1952 - 05Nov1971. This included overseas service as follows, Middle East, 17 November 1940 - 25 February 1943; New Guinea, 3 August 1943 - 20 February 1944; Morotai/Japan, 23 May 1945 - 19 June 1947; Japan, 14 August 1947 - 30 January 1948 and 2 April 1948 - 21 December 1948; Japan/Korea, 9 December 1955 - 1 January 1956; Vietnam (Southern Zone), 22 February 1964 - 26 February 1964. His service records show his advancement through the ranks as follows: Enlisted AIF (SX9461) Pte 22Jul1940; A/Sgt 30Aug1940; appointed Lt AIF 22Oct1940; T/Capt 01Aug1942; Capt 20Oct1942; Maj 19Apr1945; seconded to Interim Army (Maj) 01Jul1947; appointed Capt Aust Staff Corps and remains seconded in Interim Army in rank Maj 01Jul1949; Maj Aust Staff Corps 01Jul1951; T/Lt Col Interim Army 01Aug1951; T/Lt Col Aust Staff Corps 15May1952; secondment ceased Interim Army 15Aug1952; Lt Col Aust Staff Corps 01Aug1957; T/Col 15Dec1960; Col Aust Staff Corps 03Dec1964; T/Brig 11Jan1968; Brig Aust Staff Corps 08Feb1969; Retired List 05Nov1971; permission granted to wear prescribed uniform 06Nov1971. His record also shows that he is entitled to the following symbols against his name in Military records as follows: `psc (US)' AAO/61; `fsc (US)'. An extract from a document in Brig Isaksson's records shows a communication from Department of Defence to Department of Army that states, `It is desired to place on record an expression of appreciation of Lieutenant Colonel Isaksson's efficient and valuable service in the following appointments:- Assistant Secretary, Defence Committee; Secretary, Joint Administrative Planning Committee; Assistant Secretary, Chiefs of Staff Committee (for B.C.F.K. matters). He has displayed marked initiative and has readily accepted considerable responsibility in the important tasks allotted to him, especially in connection with the run down of B.C.F.K. and the establishment of the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve.' Further to this, Frederick G Shedden, Secretary of the Department of Defence, and at the time the Permanent Head and Chairman of the Defence Committee wrote a letter dated 25 January, 1957 to the Army Chief of General Staff to express his personal praise for LTCOL Isaksson. He wrote, `Lieutenant-Colonel Isaksson's work as Secretary, Joint Administrative Planning Committee; Assistant Secretary, Defence Committee; and Assistant Secretary, Chiefs of Staff Committee (for B.C.F.K. matters) was of a very high standard, and I would rate it as equal to the best that we have come to expect form officers selected for this class of work on the Joint Service Machinery. As well as being efficient in his duties, he performed them in a courteous and co-operative manner which earned for him the esteem of his colleagues and those for whom he worked.'