Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 4625    Session 16 (9:30am Friday 3rd August)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $600
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,000

GROUP OF FIVE TO POW: 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal (GVIR Indiae.Imp) with Australia suspension. VX53132 G.G.Thompson on first four medals, VX53132 Sgt. G.G.Thompson. A.I.F on last medal. First four medals impressed, last medal engraved. Display mounted, some contact marks, otherwise very fine.

Together with Royal Life Saving Society bronze medallion named, 'G.G.Thompson/V/1946'; GOLD COAST DARTS ASSN LIFE MEMBER lapel pin in 9ct gold (6.70g), by A.J.Parkes, reverse inscribed, '1972' and 'G.G.Thompson'.

Gordon George Thompson, baker and then transport driver, born 10Sep1919 at Ulverston, Hobart, Tas; served in Caulfield Technical School Cadet Corps, then 46 Bn Militia 08Feb1938 to 08Oct1940 service no. 323494 then 39410 and then joined AMF service no. V6626 until discharged 05Feb1941; Enl.10Feb1941 in RAAF service no.12957; transfer to AIF 18Apr1941 service no. VX53132 at Royal Park, Vic; Emb.10Jan1942 for Singapore; to Java 11Feb1942; MIA 07Mar1942 serving with Black Force 2/29 Bn and later reported POW in Java; In correspondence, Thompson states that he was put to work building Burma Railway; to Changi POW Camp 04Sep1945; recovered from Changi POW Camp 05Sep1945; rank of Sgt confirmed 05Sep1945; Emb.15Sep1945 ex Singapore on Hospital Ship Cranje; Disch.16Nov1945 as Sergeant ex 2/29 Bn; Died 07Dec1993.

In January 1981 Gordon Thompson made application to Central Army Records for replacement medals claiming his had been lost. His claim stated that he was at that time serving as Welfare Officer for an Incapacitated Servicemen's Association and needed to wear his medals on official occasions. He also stated that he was past president of Totally and Permanently Disabled Soldiers Association, Ex-POWs Association (Qld) and RSL Southport. In his service file there is an indication that he was issued with replacements for his group of five medals in late 1988. The medals above are his original group because the vendor acquired them prior to this date. Any medals reissued in 1988 or after would have (D) for duplicate on them as was the policy as from 1976 onwards. The only time replacements were issued without (D) on them was if the recipient returned the original medal (i.e. broken or damaged) for replacement (see enclosed Department of Defence Replacement Medals Policy).

With copy of full Service File and a large photo in uniform, matted and below is written, 'To my Darling Mother/with Love/from/Gordon/Christmas/1941'.

Son of Bertie Hill Thompson (see lot 4608).