Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian

Lot 4022    SESSION 13 - 2.30PM Thursday 31 July    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,400

GROUP OF SIX TO KIA AT EL ALAMEIN: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, - clasp - 8th Army; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Tobruk Siege 1941 Medal. QX6407 J.H.Samuels on first five medals, J.Samuels QX6407 on last medal. First five medals impressed, last medal engraved. Display court mounted, very fine - extremely fine.

Australian Army Medical Corps collar badge; Medical Corps armband; a selection of Middle Eastern coins, 1924-1940, from Lebanon (3), Palestine (2), Syria (2).

John Harris Samuels, medical doctor, age 25, born at Sydney into a Jewish family; Enl.25Jul1940 in CMF as Q185332, Captain, AAMC; to 2nd AIF ; 26Aug1940 as QX6407 Captain, AAMC and posted to 8 Aust Special Hospital; Emb.14Sep1940 to Palestine; visited Jerusalem November 1940; 11Jun1941 to 2/3 Aust Anti-tank Regt; at Siege of Tobruk in 2nd half of 1941; to Syria in Dec1941 for ten days; 08Aug1942 to 2/15 Infy Bn as RMO; at Battle of El Alamein; KIA on second day of battle, 25Oct1942 due to shrapnel wound which severed his aorta. The shrapnel was from a German 88mm shell that exploded just outside the RAP. At the time, Captain Samuels was operating on QX12691 Pte W.C. Pickup, B Coy, 2/15 Aust Inf Bn, who also had a chest wound and who subsequently also died. Capt Samuels and Pte Pickup are buried next to each other in El Alamein War Cemetery.

John Samuel's parents, of Lang Road, Centennial Park, Sydney, were hotel keepers and in the 1920s operated The Shakespeare Hotel, King Street, Newtown. In the late 1940s they also operated The Plaza Hotel in Sydney. John attended Newtown North Public School and later Sydney High School where he was a fine scholar, a prefect and top athlete. He then entered The University of Sydney graduating in 1938. Following graduation he was resident medical officer at the Royal Women's Hospital, Paddington, Sydney then The General Hospital, Townsville, Queensland and finally the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland.

Apparently Captain Samuels confided in the unit chaplain that he had a premonition that he would not survive the Battle of El Alamein but he remained at his post doing his duty until he was killed. His aunt, Mrs R. Gardiner established a scholarship in his memory at the Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1945 and it was awarded annually until 1958. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour located in the Great Hall of Sydney High School. His photo and service are also recorded in Australian Jewry's Book of Honour WWII. In this record it states, 'Captain Samuel's death moved General Blamey, Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces, to write this letter to his parents: The death in action of one so young as your son is a sad blow to all who knew him. Captain Samuels showed great character and courage and his fine qualities were admired by his Commanding Officer and brother officers, and endeared him to his men. His noble sacrifice and fine example will make his memory a sad though proud one. My deepest sympathy is extended to you in your sorrow.'

Together with research including various photos, correspondence, school records, university records and other documents.