Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 3694    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 4TH APRIL)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $700

TRIO: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 99 Pte W.C.Charlton. 1/L.H.Rgt. A.I.F. on first medal, 99 T/Cpl W.C.Charlton. 1/LH.Rgt A.I.F. on second medal, 99 Cpl W.C.Charlton. 1 L.H.R. A.I.F. on last medal. All medals impressed. Very fine - good very fine.

Together with King's Silver War badge, reverse numbered A56509, pin securing loop missing; Returned from Active Service badge (AIF), reverse numbered 6915; RS&SILA badge, small two figure type, reverse marked 'N.S.W 9954.

William Cardwell Charlton, railway employee, age 28, born at Murrurundi, NSW; Enl.22Aug1914 at Sydney, NSW in 1 LHR while currently serving in 5 LHR; Emb.20Oct1914; to Gallipoli 09May1915; various stays in hospital between 29Jul and 24Sep1915 while at Gallipoli; returned from hospital and TOS 1LHR 06Mar1916; on duty with YMCA at Suez 28Aug1916; on 03Nov1916 a Court of Inquiry found that Tpr Charlton AWL from 03Apr-03Nov1916 and was declared by the court to be a deserter (this appears to be a mistake in records because all of Tpr Charlton's service during this time is recorded on his file and there is no more mention of desertion in his records); to Aust Depot Stores 06Jul1917; to 1LHR 23Jul1917; RTA 15Nov1918 for (1914 Leave); Disch.24Feb1919; Died 04Feb1959 at West Narrabri, NSW.

With copy of most of Service File and also a copy of a newspaper article featuring a song about serving on Gallipoli titled 'Song of the Trenches' written by W.C.Charlton 1st A.L.H. while in King George Hospital, London and as appeared in The North Western Courier (Narrabri, NSW) on Wed 22 Mar 1916, p2. The first chorus goes, 'Far, from the Dardanelles I long to be/Where the Turkish snipers can't pot me/Think of me crouching where the worms creep/Waiting for sergeant to kiss me to sleep.'