Orders, Decorations & Medals - Militaria

Lot 5233    Session 19 (4.30pm Friday 25 November)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Militaria

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $650

TOBRUK FLAG, an Italian Army flag (approx 110x79cm) captured at Tobruk, printed at top centre of flag, '24.1.41/Tobruk Libia/To Mother/From Jack', at left side fitted to the flag is a small, canvas rectangular flag (approx 40x42cm) bearing names of men in training with Jack Brabin and printed across the centre is, 'Arrived at Dubbo December Left for Bathurst April', also, 'Machine Gunners (illegible details) AIF Enlisted December 1941', the flag has attached to it many badges including Australian Rising Sun badges, RAAF Airman's badge, others including some foreign badges, a 3 years overseas service chevron, various sweetheart badges, also tinnies mainly for patriotic funds. Fine - very fine. (lot)

This flag was sent by Jack Brabin 2/1 Bn (KIA at Crete) to his mother, Marion Brabin. The date on the flag, 24.1.41 is the day that the port at Tobruk was re-opened after the allies had begun action to cut off the port on 6 January, a battle that would continue until 22 January 1941 when the Italians surrendered. After mine sweeping the surrounding waters, the port was opened by the allies on 24 January.

List in surname alphabetic order of the names on the flag is as follows.

'Major' A.Andrews NX87706 Manly
'Baldy' Cpl F.L.Badcock NX82145 (2/3 MG Bn)
'Kindergarden' (sic) J.Betts NX7866 Berowra (2 MG Bn)
'Blondie' T.L.Booth NX80903 Murwillumbah (2/3 MG Bn)
Cpl Burfield NX80162 Annandale (2/3 MG Bn)
'Doolittle' C.Clifford NX80792 Ashfield (1 Armd Regt Wkshps)
'Deserthead' A.L.Collins NX82394 Junee (2/3 MG Bn)
? Conard NX74648? Artarmon
'Desterter'(sic) W.Corbett NX78688 Sydney (2/3 MG Bn)
'Donga' D.Donaldson NX79734 Narwee (14/15 RFTS 2/2 MG Bn)
C.Durrance NX78916 Rockdale (2 Aust L of C Postal Unit)
'Sis' A.Carey NX (no number shown) Lakemba
'The Take' J.Haining NX78763 Chatswood (HQ 3 Aust Armd Div)
'The Greyhound' A.Hennessy NX79362 Gosford (2 MG Bn)
'Babbling Brook' Pte Pat Hogan N104665 Parkes
'AWL' N.Holden NX80785 Summer Hill (30 Aust Infy Trg Bn)
'Piker' L.B.Hudson NX79630 (8 Training Bn)
R.J.Humberge NX78652 Undercliffe (2/3 MG Bn)
'Bluey' C.Jackson NX31066 Burwood
'Sport' W.S,.Jones NX78762 Croydon Park (HQ 3 Aust Armd Div)
'Dadda' L.L.King NX80509 Gosford (2/3 MG Bn)
'Oatseed' C.Lindstedt NX78768 Hurstville (38 Aust Works coy)
'Ludo' Sgt T.M.Loadsman NX80877 Murwillumbah (Camp Staff Casino)
'Rigger' Sgt J.S.Mackarell NX78800 Annandale (2 MG Bn)
'Winger' Sgt McAlpine NX7883 Dee Why (14/15 RFTS 2/2 MG Bn)
'Baby Face' J.R.Mudge NX81065 Lidcombe (2/3 MG Bn)
'Buddy' Sgt Norton NX80685 Dubbo (5 MG Bn)
'Meateater' Cpl C.Pearce NX78813 Tamworth (2/3 MG Bn)
'Shrpnell' (sic) N.Pearce NX82320 Balmain (14/15 RFTS 2/2 MG Bn)
'The Ponga Frog' N.Robbie NX81055 Canberra (2 Tank Attack Regt)
Sgt Scollen NX82143 Rockdale (7 MG Bn)
'Midnight' D.C.Smith NX79035 Lindfield (2/3 MG Bn)
W.J.Smith NX80947 South Coast
'Phil The ?' Sgt J.Spiller NX78650 Kingsgrove (5 L of C Sub Area)
'Wimpes' Cpl Stockman NX79033 Ashfield (2/2 MG Bn)
C.Thacker NX79093 Glebe Point (2/3 Aust Field Baking Platoon)
'Bromide' D.Thorncroft NX80478 Collaroy (School of Sigs NGF)
'Slap Happy' G.Wilson NX78764 Chatswood (HQ 3 Aust Armd Div)
'Swify' (sic) H.Wright NX81142 Redfern (3 Aust Retd Stores Depot)

See lot 5182.