Australian Historical Medals

Lot 683    Session 3 (2:30pm Tuesday)    Australian Historical Medals

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

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES, Teams Rifle Match N.R.A.Council & U.S.A.Navy, Sydney, Aug.26/08, competition medal in bronze (39mm), by W.J.Amor, edge inscribed, 'H.B.Jamieson'; Australia's 150th Anniversary, 1938, in oxidised silver plate (57mm) by Amor (C.1938/1), edge inscribed, 'H.B.Jamieson Chairman, N.R.A. of N.S.W. 150th. Anniversary Prize Meeting.'; National Rifle Association of New South Wales medal in silver and enamel (30mm) with scroll suspension and brooch bar 'Life Member'; N.S.W.R A Council cross in silvered bronze (27x26mm), with brooch bar suspender; Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallion (30mm, type 3 1914-24), reverse inscribed 'H.B.Jamieson 10.5.1917'; another Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallion (32mm, type 2 1904-1914), reverse inscribed, 'R.Jamieson 18.4.1911' (related to H.B.Jamieson), in a case. The first with traces of mint red under toning, good extremely fine and scarce, the rest very fine - extremely fine. (6)

The Teams Rifle Match was held at Randwick Rifle Range between teams of twenty shooters selected from members of the US Fleet and the National Rifle Association Council Teams. The NRA team was selected on the basis that the event was more of a social occasion than a serious event and as well, the American sharp pointed bullet was used which reacted differently to wind variations and required less elevation at 600 yards, thus putting the Australian team at a disadvantage. The US Fleet team won the event 1884 to 1755. After the event a dinner was held at the rifle range and medals were distributed. All medals were bronze with a total of 40 issued, one to each team member.

The 150th Anniversary Rifle Meeting of the NRA of NSW was held at Anzac Rifle Range, Liverpool finishing up on Saturday 12 February 1938. It was the largest rifle meeting held in the Empire up to that time and also the largest sporting event held in Australia. Mr H.B.Jamieson was Chairman of the Council of the NRA. He was appointed Commandant of the Australian Team to compete in the Empire Match against leading shooters from Great Britain, South Africa and New Zealand in February 1938.

Mr Jamieson died on 28 October 1947 after serving continuously for 41 years as a member of the NRA council, being Chairman from 1929-1947. He represented NSW as a delegate to the Commonwealth Council of Rifle Associations from 1927 until his death. In 1938 Jamieson House, at Anzac Rifle Range Liverpool was opened in his honour. In 1939 he was awarded an MBE for his services to rifle shooting in Australia. In 1968 Anzac Rifle Range closed and a new Jamieson House was opened at Long Bay Rifle Range, Malabar and became the new office for the NSW Rifle Association (renamed from NRA of NSW).