Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Lot 4969    Session 18 (2.30pm Friday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $6,500

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899, (type 3 reverse), - four clasps - Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal. Rev. F.Timoney, N.S.Wales, C.B.Cont. Engraved. A few edge bumps on reverse, otherwise good fine.

With copy of medal roll which also shows an entitlement by most officers to clasps for Johannesburg and Relief of Mafeking but this entitlement was subsequently revoked when qualifying criteria was examined. See also Medals to Australia by R.D.Williams for clasps issued to unit which match above as issued to Timoney.

Francis Timoney came from Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, was educated in Ireland and France and for several years was Professor at the College of St Omer and at St Macartin's College, Monaghan.He came to Australia in 1878 at the request of the Most Rev. Dr. Carr, Archbishop of Melbourne, to become inspector of Catholic schools. Father Timoney was Administrator (1892-1896) of St Benedict's Church, Broadway, Sydney and the first parish priest (1899-1900) of Sacred Heart, Mosman.

Four Catholic chaplains from Australia served in the Boer War. They were Fathers C.Caine CP, P Fagan CP, I.Messurier CP, and F.Timoney CP, all members of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Father Francis Timoney, 42, was the Catholic Chaplain with NSW Citizens Bushmen in the Third Contingent to South Africa. Although he was with the Bushmen which was a mounted unit he was not a good rider but eventually became a proficient horseman. He also wore a large pistol and accompanied the troopers into combat, a fact which generated great respect among the men. Father Timoney was reportedly fearless of danger and although he wore a holstered pistol it was not for combat but rather in the event of a confrontation with a wild animal.

While in South Africa Father Timoney acted as an unpaid news correspondent. He was a founder and director of the Catholic Press newspaper, first published in 1895, and reported without fear or favour. The Australian people fell in love with the controversial stories published on the campaign in South Africa by a priest known by all the troopers as 'Father Tim'. He was most critical, not only of any bad individuals in the Australian element, but particularly of the tactics of burning farms and plundering put in place by Lord Kitchener, British Commander-in-Chief. In one of his letters to Cardinal Moran of Sydney he states, 'If I were not an eyewitness to the sickening scenes of plunder and incendiarism committed by our troops I should decline to believe them capable of such atrocities. And yet these Boers have not injured an English subject in the Transvaal. In England and Australia one only hears a garbled suppressed version account of the war. They see their country in ruins, their fields and crops destroyed, their cattle driven away by the enemy, and the flames from their burning houses rising sky high. I have known instances in which our troopers did not leave in a house one morsel of bread for the women and children. Is it any wonder that among a people so independent a spirit of hatred consumes them?'

Sir Alfred Milner, High Commissioner for South Africa and Governor of Cape Colony, was furious at the publicity attracted by Timoney's despatches. He summoned the priest to a meeting and, in what can best be described as a 'dramatic interview', Father Timoney refused to withdraw a word.

Father Timoney was also very critical of many problems as he saw them in the British political and class system, the military establishment and including General Carrington, who, as he wrote, 'showed the white feather at Elands River' and yet was in England making speeches and receiving honours only intended for brave men. Attempts were made to have him muted but despite this, he refused to withdraw any criticism of the British commanders and politicians and no doubt this cost him any chance of a decoration even though many times he was under heavy fire and on one occasion he carried a wounded soldier, through a hail of bullets, to safety. Despite the displeasure of him among certain members of the hierarchy, there was great regard for the 'Bushman Padre' amongst the troops with one officer saying 'If Father Timoney continues at his work long enough the whole garrison will be converted.'

In 1901, while accompanying the Australian troops to England, Father Timoney consulted specialists regarding a throat problem. The infection was severe and despite an operation and specialist treatment he died in hospital. He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. The bad news spread quickly around the world, because as the result of his articles on the war 'Father Tim' was indeed famous. One Australian newspaper wrote, 'If every tear shed for Father Timoney had been a white blossom, his bier (coffin stand) would have surpassed that of an emperor for material glory. If his near relatives wept for him in London, no less bitterly did thousands and thousands grieve for him in troubled South Africa and here in Australia, where as chaplain and priest he had won the regard of men of all creeds and opinions.'

With extensive research.