Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 3647    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday 26 March)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $12,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $10,000

GROUP OF FOUR TO WWI ESCAPER: Military Cross (GRI); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. Lieut. H.Johnson 21st M.G. Coy. A.I.F. on first medal, 2340 Pte H.Johnson 9/Bn. A.I.F. on second medal, Lieut. H.Johnson. A.I.F. on third and fourth medals. The first medal engraved, the second and third medals impressed, the last medal cleaned and polished with name erased and re-engraved. Swing mounted, fine - very fine.

Together with wrist watch converted into a compass and used by Lieutenant Johnson during his escape; two accounts by Lt Johnson of his escape, one a 5-page typed transcript, the other a 3-page official statement to Australian War Memorial; two photos in later years in civilian attire; official telegrams, one from the King at Buckingham Palace congratulating him on his escape and inviting him to the Palace.

Only seven Military Crosses to POW escapers in WWI.

MC: Fourth Supplement No.31759 to LG 30/1/1920; CAG No.38 29/4/1920.

Citation: His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the above award in recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping, or attempting to escape, from captivity, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919.

Herbert Johnson, Bank Clerk, age 22, born at Southport, Queensland; Enl.09Jun1915 at Brisbane; previous service of 2 years in Brisbane Grammar School Cadets; Emb.03Sep1915; TOS 9 Bn 07Jan1916; to 3rd MG Coy 13Mar1916; L/Cpl 31Jul1916; 02Jan1917 to Div Officers Training School; 2/Lieutenant 31Jan1917; TOS 21 MG Coy 31Jan1917; 15Apr1917 reported MIA; 18Apr1917 now reported as POW - captured Laginecourt and interred Karlsruhe; previously reported POW Germany now reported escaped to Holland and arrived in England 30Nov1917; 27Mar1918 stationed at M.G. Training Depot and from 01Aug to 22 Oct appointed Adjutant; 09Sep1919 married Emma Louise Mackay, daughter of journalist Robert Smith Mackay, at The Parish Church, Acton, Middlesex; RTA 05Feb1920 with wife, child and nurse; appointment terminated 10Jun1920.

In his statement, Lt Johnson in relation to his capture at Lagincourt in part states, 'The artillery were only 300 yards behind me and were absolutely silent and I went back to see what they were doing. I found them all asleep in their dugouts. I got them up and their officer gave an order to stand by the guns. Almost immediately the German hand grenades came within 50 yards of the guns. The officer then gave the order to take out the breech blocks and get away. I heard a gun firing which I knew to be a Vickers and thinking that one of my guns was still holding out, I made my way back to get in touch with them. It was a very uncertain light and I had only gone about 50 yards before I fell into a company of Germans. (Sehleswig Holstein). I was covered by their rifles and did not get a chance to get away. I subsequently found that the Germans themselves were firing our gun.'

He then writes that he was taken through the Hindenburg wire to Pronville and after a few hours was marched over the next few days, along with other prisoners, mostly without food until being put on a train. He was at three different camps, Karlsruhe, Crefeld and Strohen, this last one he describes as absolutely disgusting with terrible food and sanitary conditions and staff that did their best to make the POWs' life intolerable.

His first escape attempt was made with a party of twelve officers by using a tunnel however while constructing it they struck water and the tunnel had to be abandoned. Then he made another attempt, this time successful, on 19 November in company with two English officers by cutting the wire and walking, only at night, to the frontier which he crossed at about 5A.M. on Sunday 25 November.

His diary includes details of items he used to escape as follows, 'Map and Compass - map traced on 'oiled paper' (note paper into which butter has been rubbed) from Ordnance map borrowed from English officer. Compass - Home-made. I disembowelled my wristlet watch, inserted a pin in the centre of the back to act as a pivot, on which I balanced a needle which was cut from a safety razor blade and magnetised a piece of small luminous hand of watch on N. end of needle enabled us to use it at night.' He finalises his account with a list of all Australian officers that he saw while in captivity.

With research including service file.