Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian

Lot 3850    Session 12 (11:30am Thursday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian

Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,750

FAMILY GROUP TO MAYOR OF BRISBANE: Husband. Group of Six: Military Medal, GVR (in Field Marshall's uniform); British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937; Coronation Medal 1953. 3450 Pte J.W.Greene. 17 H.A.C. on first medal, 3450 Cpl. J.W.Green. H.A.C. (note different spelling of surname) on second and third medals, last three medals unnamed as issued. All named medals impressed.; Wife. Pair: Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937, both on ribbon bows. Both medals unnamed as issued. Very fine - extremely fine.

Together with the following;
1. Royal Humane Society of Australasia Bronze Medal, reverse engraved, 'William J.Greene 26-12-1901' (an official duplicate for a lost medal).
2. Lifesaving Appreciation fob in gold (9ct; approx 9.5g), inscribed with initials, 'WG' on obverse and on the reverse, 'Wynnum Boating.Disaster/Presented To/W.Green (sic)/For Saving W.Fish/26.12.01'.
3. Brisbane City Council Transport Pass in gold (9ct; approx 15g), reverse inscribed, 'Alderman/J.W.Greene/Lord Mayor/1931-1934'.
4. Masonic Past Master jewel in gold (9ct; approx 20g) decorated with one ruby and two diamonds, approx 4 pts each, for Moreton Lodge No 226 UGLQ, reverse inscribed, 'Presented To/Wor.Bro. J.W.Greene/P.M./As a token of esteem/By/The Bretheren/2.4.1949'.
5. Masonic 40 Years Service jewel, U.G.L. of Q., reverse inscribed, 'Morton (sic) Lodge/No 226 U.G.L.Q./ Pres' to/Wor.Bro. J.W.Greene/P.M./1954/Initiated 1913'.
6. Aged Masons, Widows & Orphans Institution Queensland medal, reverse inscribed, 'Presented To/Bro/John William Greene/By/Queensland Masonic Club/1944'.
7. Queensland Masonic Club Honorary Life Member badge in gold (9ct; 3.2g), unnamed.
8. RSL badge (KC) two figure type.

RHS Bronze Medal (Case 2065): Citation: William J.Greene, of Wynnum, Queensland, a carpenter, aged 27 years, who rescued five youths - named J.A.Finney, H.T.Dark, W.Finlay, W.G.L.Fish, H.F.Kennedy, all residing in Brisbane, and whose ages range from 13 to 19 years - from drowning between Wellington Point and Wynnum (Queensland), on 26th December, 1901. The youths were sailing from Wellington Point to Manly in the 'Roxana', and she capsized, leaving fourteen persons struggling in the water, nine of whom were drowned. Mr Greene, who was sailing towards Wynnum, saw two youths clinging to a log, and with great difficulty rescued them. When the youths told their sad tale, Mr Greene made for Wynnum, and asked the captain of the 'Regana' to go with him and search for the capsized boat; and after cruising round for a long time they found the boat, with the boys clinging to it. Mr Greene, with a life-line round him, swam out 30 yards in a rough sea to the youths, who were completely exhausted, and rescued them. They had been clinging to the boat for nearly six hours.

John William (sometimes William John) Greene (sometimes Green) was born 3 September 1876 in Cardiff, Wales, moving to Australia with his family in the 1890s and settling in Wynnum, Queensland. Being a keen recreational sailor, Greene was in Moreton Bay on 26 January 1901, the day of the Wynnum boat disaster when the 'Roxana' capsized leaving fourteen youths in rough seas clinging to the upturned boat debris. Greene was instrumental in saving five of the youths, the other nine drowned. For his gallant actions he was awarded the Royal Humane Society of Australasia Bronze Medal (case 2065) and a privately engraved piece from W.Fish, one of the youths he saved.

A carpenter and Master Builder by trade, Greene became President of the Queensland Master Builders Association and Vice President of the Federated Master Builders Association of Australia. He built the Moreton Bay Girl's High School.

When World War I broke out, Greene answered 'the call' by travelling to England and on 3 May 1915 he joined 1Bn Honourable Artillery Company. He then served overseas from 4 February to 24 December 1916 before transferring to the Tank Corps. He was awarded the Military Medal and was seriously wounded (Who's Who 1933-34). After the war he returned to Brisbane and became involved with local politics. He became an Alderman of the Wynnum Town Council from 1921-25, was the Mayor in 1922 and served on the Finance, Works, Health and Legislative Committees in 1924 and 1925.

Greene moved to greater prominence when he served as the 3rd Lord Mayor of Greater Brisbane 1931-1934. Also at this time he served as Alderman for the Wynnum Ward and on the Executive Committee of Finance. A long standing Mason, Greene was also active with Rotary, Legacy, and Anzac Clubs, and was involved with the 1935 Jubilee and 1937 Coronation celebrations along with his wife, Phyllis Mary Fairfax Greene (nee Smyth) whom he married on 29 January 1920. Both received medals for the 1935 and 1937 celebrations and J.W.Greene was also recognised in 1953 with a medal. In 1935-37 his wife was President, Ladies Committee, Society for Crippled Children. John William Greene died on 7 October 1959 just a couple of weeks after the Queensland Centenary Celebrations.

With research and a photo of Greene in his Brisbane Lord Mayoral robes.